Well it finally happened – after more than 20 years on the road for business I hit one of the minefields that lurk out there. No, it wasn’t clowns or airline food. Remember my earlier post about jamming your heavy bags into the overhead bin? Well even though I was traveling with one of my lighter carry-on bags, my luggage shifted just like they always say it does and when I reached to get my stuff I contorted my body like I was in the Cirque Du Soleil (without the exciting music or costumes). This was too much for my knee and the people waiting behind me getting ready to run off the plane (be kind People – I again refer you to an earlier post on Travel Etiquette). I had fallen and couldn’t get up and my emergency clapper device was 500 miles away.

Luckily the flight attendants were very nice, gave me some pretzels and sent me to the urgent care center at the airport – only about 10,000 steps from the gate. As any good business traveler I braced myself for the long walk, only sobbing a little bit as people dodged around me to get to the food courts. I finally made it and the MD on staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. So a foam leg brace, instructions for ice every 20 minutes and a long wheelchair ride to baggage claim later, the idea came to me that others might need to know what to do in situations where you need real assistance. So as I sit at home awaiting the results of my MRI, I thought I would pull together a few guidelines on preparing for an emergency and where to turn for help should one occur.

A few tips on preparing for an emergency while traveling:

Carry an Emergency Contact Information card. This is a card that contains the name and phone number of someone who can be contacted if you are in an accident or taken ill. When traveling especially for those of us who do it routinely, the last thing on our minds is an accident or illness on route to the place we are going, but in reality anything can happen. Precious time could be lost while emergency workers try to contact someone who can make decisions about your care. A simple card with the name and number of your next of kin could save priceless minutes and in some cases maybe even your life.

Program your cell phone with the phone numbers of people to contact in case of an emergency. It’s a good idea to list the number of the person you want contacted in your cell phone directory as “Emergency Contact.” If you put a space (__) at the beginning, it will be the first number that shows up in your directory. Everyone who owns a cell phone should do this regardless if they travel or not. It only takes a second but again could save your life.

Pack an emergency kit (this is not a first aid kit though you should have one of those as well). This should be in your carry-on luggage and should contain the following:

That pesky insurance card. It is also a good thing to know what your insurance provider requires in an emergency situation. For example, my previous HMO required my primary care to OK an ER visit unless it was a matter of life and death. (Needless to say I am no longer with them.) It is also helpful to know what your deductible is and keep a stash of cash or have a credit card at the ready to cover it.

Your doctor’s phone number, in case a hospital or emergency center needs to contact the doctor for your medical history/allergies, etc.

A list of your prescriptions including generic names, if possible. This is especially important if you travel out of the country as brand names vary from country to country. Also, pack a few extra days of medication just in case you are away from home longer than expected.

Try to stay calm. I know this can be hard especially if something unfortunate has just happened. Remember the old adage of more bees with honey (or Tippecanoe and Tyler Too) – it works with people too. (The later was for people who remember 5th grade history or in case you go on a game show in the future.) No one likes to be yelled at and no one wants to deal with someone who is threatening a lawsuit. The travel staff will be much more willing to deal with a rational person especially if you can clearly describe what happened and what you need.

Turn to Travelers Aid. Depending on the circumstance, Travelers Aid may be able to assist you. Any emergency is a crisis for the people involved and Travelers Aid is there to help. Travelers Aid can be found in transportation centers such as the nation’s busiest airports, as well as bus and train stations, where each year four million people seek information or assistance. They are there to help with challenges such as assisting the elderly and disabled persons down to anyone who needs extra attention to make their connections.

If you have mobility issues, such as I did with needing a wheelchair – first, check with the airline you are using. There are also several resources online that can help with the location of accessible entrances, location of elevators, services and so on. Skycaps at the departure terminals can be quite helpful from assisting with luggage to securing a wheelchair as well. If you need additional aid in getting to or from an airport gate, family members can arrange to get a pass from your airline ticket counter in order to accompany you to the gate or to meet an arriving flight. This pass will enable the person to go through the airport’s security checkpoint (valid ID required).

As I mention at the beginning, this is part one of a two part series. I have to contact my HMO and see how much of the rest of the story I’m allowed to tell. (Disclaimer – This story is only valid in the lower 48 states.) Next time I will tackle what to do when other types of emergencies/crisis happen such as losing your luggage, having a flight canceled and even being the victim of a crime, which though rare is something we should be prepared for – yes it can happen to you. That should cheer you up… so till next week, I hope the suggestions above help you to feel a bit more prepared should an emergency occur.

As always, I welcome your suggestions and feedback on this topic- so write to me at anne@wejetset.com . Travel safely and watch out for those overhead bins…