Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Health
Other than the typical tropical environment health concerns, like sun exposure
and sea sickness (see below), there are no major health concerns in the Virgin Islands.
St. Thomas has the best hospital in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Roy Lester Schneider Hos-
pital; p. 54). St. Croix also has good hospital facilities (Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital &
Medical Center; p. 145). There is only a health clinic on St. John; more serious cases are
transferred to the hospital on St. Thomas.
Medical facilities in the B.V.I. are very limited. In very serious cases, patients are trans-
ported to Puerto Rico. There is only one small general hospital, Peebles Hospital (p. 196)
on Tortola. There are one public and one private clinic on Virgin Gorda. Both islands are
served by ambulances with paramedics. There is a very small clinic with a government
nurse on both Jost Van Dyke and Anegada, but no clinics on the other islands. There is
also no hyperbaric chamber in the B.V.I. Patients requiring treatment for decompression
illness are transferred to St. Thomas.
It is not difficult to get a prescription filled or find a doctor on St. Thomas, St. Croix,
and Tortola. You should get your prescriptions filled before heading to the other islands,
where it's sometimes tricky and complicated to get prescriptions from the mainland
refilled. Often it requires a phone call from the U.S.V.I. to a stateside pharmacy or to the
doctor who prescribed the medicine in the first place. CVS and Wal-Mart are the best for
contacting a stateside branch of those chains, if your prescription is on a computer file.
To avoid possible hassles and delays, both in the B.V.I. and the U.S.V.I., it is best to arrive
with enough medication for your entire vacation.
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BUGS & BITES
Mosquitoes
do exist in the Virgin Islands, but they aren't
the malaria-carrying mosquitoes that you might find elsewhere in the Caribbean.
They're still a nuisance, though.
Sand flies,
which appear mainly in the evening,
are a bigger annoyance. Screens can't keep these critters out, so carry your bug
repellent.
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DIETARY RED FLAGS
If you experience
diarrhea,
moderate your eating
habits, and drink only bottled water until you recover. If symptoms persist, con-
sult a doctor. Much of the fresh water on the Virgin Islands is stored in cisterns
and filtered before it's served. Delicate stomachs might opt for bottled water.
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SEASICKNESS
The best way to prevent
seasickness
is with the scopol-
amine patch by Transderm Scop, a prescription medication. Bonine and Drama-
mine are good over-the-counter medications, although each causes drowsiness.
Smooth Sailing is a ginger drink that works quite well to settle your stomach.
You might also opt for an acupressure wristband available at drugstores (www.
sea-band.com). We find that a ginger pill taken with a meal and followed by
Dramamine an hour before boating also does the job.
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SUN EXPOSURE
The Virgin Islands' sun can be brutal. To protect yourself,
consider wearing sunglasses and a hat, and use
sunscreen
(SPF 15 and higher)
liberally. Limit your time on the beach for the first few days. If you overexpose
yourself, stay out of the sun until you recover. If your sunburn is followed by fever,
chills, a headache, nausea, or dizziness, see a doctor.
Hospitals
The largest hospital in St. Thomas—and the only emergency room on the
island—is the
Roy Lester Schneider Hospital
(p. 54). Islanders from St. John also use this
hospital, which is about a 5-minute drive from Charlotte Amalie. The other major hospital
is the
Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center
on St. Croix (p. 145). The payment
of Medicare and Medicaid operates as it does in the United States. If you walk into a hos-
pital without any coverage or insurance, you are expected to pay.
On Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, the main hospital in the little country is
Pee-
bles Hospital
(p. 196). If you are on one of the out islands, you are generally taken to Tor-
tola for treatment. In addition to these hospitals, there are a number of private doctors'
offices throughout the islands, charging higher rates than the hospitals.
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