There are many ways in which all of us travel. This post is devoted primarily to those of us that travel by recreational vehicles (RV).
We never really know what is going to happen as we travel. Our RV could break down or any other number of things could happen, including getting sick. Though there are no guarantees, we can decrease the likelihood of having more problems when we know what to do.
First, a personal story.
I am a solo traveler and have been traversing this great country in my recreational vehicle (RV) converted van for several years taking in all the beauty and history it has to offer, from the great Smoky Mountains to the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada range to the deserts of the southwest and beaches along its vast coastline.
Up until this past winter (January 2022), I had never been faced with any problems, then it happened.
I make the annual pilgrimage along with thousands of other ‘snowbirds’ to the great Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona to enjoy the warm weather and camaraderie with my fellow RV’ers. I can always find a suitable camping site around Quartzsite, Arizona on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land. There are millions of acres of BLM Land in the Arizona desert that belongs to the Federal Government, which we can camp on free. During the winter months, the desert is dotted with thousands of RV’s of all sizes and shapes that come here for the same purpose that I do. Quartzsite is a small town of approximately 3500 residents, but the town swells to a million plus during the winter. Being a small town, there is no hospital, only a small medical clinic. The nearest hospital is in Parker, Arizona, some thirty-five miles north of Quartzsite.
About the middle of January, I decided to drive down to Yuma, a large city of approximately 95,000 residents in southwest Arizona. Yuma sits on the borders of Arizona, California and Mexico. Lucky for me that I did decide to visit Yuma when I did. I camped on BLM Land near Yuma as I prepared for a visit to Los Algodones, Mexico. After a couple of days in Yuma, I began hemorrhaging blood. Being a somewhat stubborn man, I figured it was just a temporary thing and it would stop and all would be fine. Not so. After 3 days of this and no let-up in blood loss, I began to get somewhat concerned and drove myself to the nearest hospital emergency room. I was immediately admitted as weakness was becoming an issue and I had become quite dehydrated. A myriad of tests were begun. To make a long story short, I spent a week in the hospital in Yuma, some 1800 miles from home and all alone with no family near-by.
After a week, the attending doctor at the Yuma hospital told me he would only release me on the condition I return home immediately and put myself under the care of my personal doctor. After discussions by phone with family, it was decided I would fly home and my son would fly to Yuma, get my van, and drive it back home.
Fortunately, everything turned out well, thanks to the wonderful staff and care at the Yuma hospital and my doctors back home.
In summary, here are just a few suggestions just in case you get sick while traveling:
Carry medications with you. It is essential to have some medications with you when on the road. If you are prone to illness, it is a good idea when planning your trip to know the locations of hospitals, etc.
Request assistance immediately. If you think you cannot handle the sickness any longer, especially if alone, then always request help. It is ideal if you can already have the numbers of health care facilities along your route. If you are traveling within the USA, you can dial 911.
Stop driving. If you are suffering from any kind of pain or high fever, it is wise to discontinue driving. Being sick could prevent you from focusing your attention on the road, thereby increasing your chances of having an accident.
Call your insurance Company. Some insurance companies offer evacuation services, especially if you get sick in far-away places. They can also suggest doctors and/or hospitals along your route.
Reduce your stress level. Stress and anxiety only make sickness worse. They tend to cause the body to slow down the healing process.
Getting sick while traveling is not an easy thing to deal with. However, when you know what to do, you can avoid being stuck in a more difficult situation.
#########################################
I believe an open road is a metaphor to life. Some days you can see for miles, everything is clear. Other times, what’s just beyond the headlights is dark and unknown.
But if you keep control and believe in yourself, you can make it through any twists and turns no matter how it might otherwise seem.
