What is your emergency plan if you have a medical emergency while traveling alone with kids out of the United States?

[Anonymous]

I’d love to do solo parent trips with my children but due to Multiple Sclerosis I get nervous about traveling alone with them. I’d love to see Switzerland for example, England, Australia. But what do you do when there’s a medical emergency with only one parent?

I know others do not let medical conditions impact their travel with their children alone, so I am curious about your circumstances and plans you typically have for them in case of emergency while
Abroad?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t travel solo with them until they are old enough to find a trusted adult and call home for the other parent. Also when with the kids I don’t stay in air bnb type places, we stay at reputable hotels where if something happens to me, there are adults nearby who can assist.

[Anonymous]

Get medical evacuation insurance. We have Medjet assist.

[Anonymous]

Do you have anyone who can travel with you? Friend/family member, etc.

My spouse once got pneumonia abroad and the actual hospitalization was fine, but going through that without a backup for who can care for your kids would be difficult.

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids?

Don't travel too far initially, and only travel to places with good health systems. Research how to use that system before you depart.

Make sure you have health insurance wherever you go.

Talk to your specialist before you go and carry a letter or your last visit summary that explains your condition and meds.

Take two weeks of extra meds in case of delay and carry them in their original bottles. Have a kit of allowed OTC meds too - these may not be so easily available abroad or in the middle of the night.

Have international phone plans on all your phones.

Look up travel tips on MS websites.

Have your doctors' contact info and your portal log in info in case you or a foreign doctor needs to ask them a question.

Be aware that even healthy people can face problems e.g. accidents, food poisoning.

Wear a medic alert bracelet.

Rest when you need to or do easier activities.

Australia is a much harder trip just in terms of the distance. The jetlag can knock you around. Start smaller and maybe English speaking (UK, Ireland) and see how you go. If that works, then try something more ambitious.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the age of the kids. I didn’t travel solo with them outside the US until they were in 4th and 6th grade.

If you are thinking younger, why not an organized tour group?

[Anonymous]

I am a single parent, so could only travel alone with my kids. Since I was usually in Europe, I relied on the social network kicking in if we encountered an emergency (just as I would if I took her to Target in the US).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d love to do solo parent trips with my children but due to Multiple Sclerosis I get nervous about traveling alone with them. I’d love to see Switzerland for example, England, Australia. But what do you do when there’s a medical emergency with only one parent?

I know others do not let medical conditions impact their travel with their children alone, so I am curious about your circumstances and plans you typically have for them in case of emergency while
Abroad?

Get very good med evac insurance with high coverage and evac to hospital of choice. These plans almost always include personnel who will travel with minors, accommodate them with you if possible, or have them united with a family member.

[Anonymous]

In most European countries you will get treated and will not get served a large medical bill but do check for specific countries. I think it would be “better” to experience and emergency there than here in some ways!

[Anonymous]

I don't have a specific medical condition, but you never know what can happen. Healthy adults and kids can have issues too. I would travel with another adult relative or friend who can be trusted to help in a situation where I or one of the kids needed it until they are at least in their early teens and more independent/able to help. If you don't have a friend or relative, I would probably consider a reputable tour company that caters to families (Disney, Tauck come to mind). (I get travel insurance while abroad for medical evacuation and to cover significant nonrefundable costs in the US as well, but that is a separate issue.)

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids?

I wouldn’t travel to a 3rd world country if I had medical concerns. But Switzerland, England, Australia? Unless you have v small children you should be fine.

[Anonymous]

Think about getting a stomach bug or virus that sidelines you. If you are stuck in a hotel or Airbnb, you’ll need to order food to be delivered—and potentially medications.

Can your kids fend for themselves while you rest in bed? If not, then you shouldn’t travel alone.

[Anonymous]

Even the poorest countries in Europe will put you back together. We have had 3 emergencies in EU. Ambulance came fast and the bill was under $50 or $0. We had high fever with 6-month old; cat allergy we didn't know the kid had, and kid broke their arm riding ATV.

[Anonymous]

They will contact the Embassy. Keep an ICE on your phone.

[Anonymous]

Also, in Australia, they will take you into the hospital, with your kids, and look after you better than at a hotel here. When my son was a baby, we went to the hospital and they didn't even ask for his ID or for any money. They just took him in and looked after him for 3 nights until they were sure we were both ok.