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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Before You Leave for Italy: Emergencies


No one likes to think about emergencies, but we have to think about them a little in order to prepare for them. (Sorry, friends.)

A few quick and easy things to think about before you leave:

Health
Does your health insurance cover you abroad/if you need to be sent home? Contact them directly and ask. 

Wondering if your vaccinations are up to date? Check with the CDC.

Bring all of your medicine with you in its original containers.

If you might need a specialist, look for English speaking specialists/clinics ahead of time. Hospitals in major cities should have translators. Read more here about the medical system in Italy

Emergencies
Register with the U.S. Embassy in Rome for regular security updates.

Leave a copy of your travel plans, passports, credit cards, etc., with a trusted friend at home. 

What did I forget?

2 comments:

Bill Iverson said...

If you need a hospital or specialist in Rome (or indeed in Italy, if you're mobile), I recommend the Salvator Mundi International Hospital. It is one of the two hospitals normally used by American or other Western European expats in Rome, and the more convenient of the two (it's near the Vatican). Your U.S. medical insurance probably does not cover emergency flights back to the U.S. Of the several companies that do offer such assistance, I recommend Medjet Assist (although I have not had to be evacuated, the MedJet Assist staff was helpful in finding a hospital and specialist in Rome, although that was not part of their actual responsibility.

Chloe Yelena Miller said...

Thanks for sharing these resources, Bill. Hope you and your family are doing well.