Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Seeking medical advice abroad
You can expect to be a bit ill when you travel just due to the different food and unsettled
lifestyle (painkillers and loo paper will probably be the best things you've packed).
While you're away:
•
Keep a record of any treatment, such as courses of antibiotics, that you have when
overseas and tell your doctor when you get back;
•
Be wary of needles and insist on unused ones; it's best if you can see the packet
opened in front of you, or you could take a 'sterile kit' (containing needles) with
you; and
•
If you don't speak the language, have the basic words for medical emergencies
written down so you can explain what is wrong.
Is a gap-year safe?
Accidents can happen anywhere and so can earthquakes, floods, cyclones and other random
events.
But there are some risks you can avoid by being alert, informed and prepared. You should
take personal safety seriously and not put yourself in danger by agreeing to anything about
which you have misgivings, just because you don't want to risk someone thinking that
you're stupid or scared.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office estimates that of the approximately 250,000 young
people who take a gap each year, around 75,000 are prone to a reckless spirit that it calls
the 'Invincibles'.
In 2013/14, the FCO handled 17, 517 'assistance cases' globally. While support includes
visiting those who have been admitted to hospital or arrested, to rescuing British citizens
from forced marriages abroad, the FCO launched Know Before You Go because it had
found that the most common problems it was being called in on were the most preventable
ones, such as inadequate or no insurance.
The FCO now has a new Twitter service, offering easy way to stay up to date with the
latest advice about travel, and to get help before and during a trip abroad. Questions to
@FCOtravel are answered 9am to 6pm BST, Monday to Friday.
This service is provided by the FCO's dedicated travel advice and consular teams, who aim
to respond within 30 minutes. Outside of 9am to 6pm questions are only answered in the
event of a crisis situation. Others are picked up at the start of the next working day. Many
