How to manage the unexpected

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting our work!

When my oldest son was around two, we decided to take a long road trip to the beach as a family. He had been happily playing in the backseat when suddenly he went quiet. Curious, I turned around to see what had caused him to stop babbling.

He was having a seizure.

We immediately pulled off the interstate, and in an amazing stroke of luck or Providence, a police car happened to see us pull into the exit median. The officer called 911, and an ambulance showed up within probably two minutes; by that time, our son was back to his normal happy self. We knew he was at risk for febrile (high temperature) seizures- I had one as a child myself- but it happening in the car, away from home, on vacation (or on our way there) was, well, horrifying.

As much as we prepare ourselves for vacation with packing lists, itineraries and all the tips and tricks, we often forget to think about what we’ll do in the event of an emergency or if something completely unexpected happens.

So how should you think about managing the unexpected? Here are a few things that have helped our family:

Know the emergency number for the area where you’ll be traveling.

In-country emergency numbers are always at the top of every itinerary that WanderWell produces for our clients. Make sure you know what number to call and remember: in some countries this may be different for different types of emergencies.

Have good trip (and other) insurance

We know that travel insurance can feel like a racket, but you sure will be thankful you have it if the unexpected happens. We like to use Squaremouth to compare the many different plans available and to make sure that we understand what is- and isn’t- covered.

Additionally, if you book any portion of your trip, including a rental car, through a credit card, your credit card company may provide supplemental insurance at no cost to you. This includes trip cancellation and delay, accident insurance and lost luggage reimbursement. For travel benefits and protections, we like Chase Sapphire credit cards as well as Capital One.

Be aware of country-wide holidays and regular opening and closing hours

Of course you can’t plan when an emergency will take place. But being aware of any large scale holidays that will cause places like pharmacies to be closed is a good idea. Additionally, in some places around the world, stores, shops and restaurants are routinely closed on a specific day of the week. Being aware is being prepared! And speaking of being prepared…

Plan to travel with essential medicines

While you can absolutely pick up over-the-counter medicines upon arrival in your destination, it’s always a good idea to have at least a couple doses of medicines such as acetaminophen (we love the brand Genexa), Imodium or Pepto-Bismol and some sort of hydrating powder, such as Gatorade powder or Pedialyte powder packs. Dramamine has been put to good use in our family, too! And of course a thermometer is always a must. That way, if someone starts to get sick, you have at least a little bit of time to figure out where you need to go and how to get there. Which brings us to…

Try to know where the nearest hospital, urgent care and pharmacy are

Chances are very, very good that you won’t need a hospital or even an urgent care. But it’s always good to know where they are just in case. Same goes for local pharmacies; in fact in Europe, many people first go to the pharmacy when feeling ill, rather than their doctor. According to the Patron Saint of European Travel, Rick Steves, “European pharmacists can diagnose and prescribe remedies for many simple problems, such as sore throats, fevers, stomach issues, sinus problems, insomnia, blisters, rashes, urinary tract infections, or muscle, joint, and back pain. Most cities have at least a few 24-hour pharmacies.”

Stay Calm

The vast majority of people travel with absolutely no issues at all. And we also can’t let the fear of the possibility of something happening keep us from going out and enjoying ourselves. But by following these simple tips, you’ll be prepared should the unexpected happen, getting you back on the road to an enjoyable trip soon.