Beyond the need for travel medical coverage, global travelers are starting to recognize emergency travel kits as one method of travel preparedness. Well stocked emergency ‘go’ kits can help travelers out of a bad travel situation by arming them with some tools and objects useful in emergency situations.
Be Prepared with an Emergency Travel Kit
What should go into an emergency travel kit? Experts are recommending the following:
- A good police whistle for capturing the attention of others when you need it.
- A roll of adhesive tape when it’s necessary to keep your hotel room from locking behind you.
- Some local currency (approximately $100-$200 US-worth) in small denominations.
- A smartphone with a reliable service provider.
In the case of the recent disaster in Japan, for example, a smartphone can help travelers connect with others, get information about the situation, and book flights out of a danger zone.
Travelers should always keep their identification documents (passport, etc.) and medications organized and prepared to be stuffed quickly into bags when necessary as well. You don’t want to be hunting around a hotel room for vital items when every minute counts.
Beyond the Basics
In addition to the basics listed above, some travelers recommend having the following when you travel:
- Water purifier for ensuring safe, drinkable water when water supplies are compromised.
- Earplugs for situations when you encounter noise areas and you need to sleep
- Headlamp for navigating in the dark in a power outage.
The best advice is to think about where you are going and know the risk where you will be traveling. A folding mosquito nets can be helpful in areas where malaria is a risk, but not much use in the cold of Norway for example.
