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Visit a Pharmacy for Minor Ailments When Travelling - Travel Tip Tuesday · Travel Mug Podcast

• 0:00
  Meggan: Hey everyone, and welcome back to travel tip Tuesday with the travel mug podcast.
• 0:05
  Meggan: We are happy you are here.
• 0:07
  Meggan: How are you today, Jenn?
• 0:09
  Jenn: I am doing well.
• 0:11
  Jenn: How about you?
• 0:11
  Jenn: Are you getting excited for Iceland?
• 0:14
  Meggan: I am I am I, I can't we're in the 20 day ish mark, like 26/25 something and the excitement is building.
• 0:24
  Meggan: So I think that question leads really well into today's travel tip Tuesday.
• 0:30
  Meggan: So I know in the past we have discussed the incredible importance of travel insurance.
• 0:35
  Meggan: Please get your travel insurance.
• 0:37
  Meggan: , but what if you actually need to use it?
• 0:40
  Meggan: So I'm not talking about big medical emergencies, although I do want to lend a tip to prepare you for that, which is knowing the equivalent 911 in the country you are traveling to as a start, like literally if you don't know anything else, know the emergency number in case you need it.
• 0:59
  Meggan: But what I'm talking about is smaller issues, such as a fever, a urinary tract infection, a rash that has appeared and simply cannot be ignored, like what should you do?
• 1:11
  Meggan: So, first The second thing is to be familiar with your actual travel insurance policy because some do require you to get in touch with them prior to seeking medical attention.
• 1:24
  Meggan: This is, of course, I want to reiterate for non emergencies, don't prioritize this over getting immediate medical care if you need it.
• 1:31
  Meggan: Okay, I've been told me that I should check my policy first.
• 1:35
  Meggan: My arm is hanging off.
• 1:36
  Meggan: That's not what I'm saying.
• 1:38
  Meggan: I swear.
• 1:39
  Meggan: Now, once you get that sorted out, uh, something that might be not as common here in North America, although, thankfully, it is creeping in, is some people actually go to a pharmacy first in a lot of other countries before visiting their family doctor.
• 1:54
  Meggan: So in Europe, for example, it is common for folks to visit the pharmacy as they often take care of a variety of ailments, including.
• 2:04
  Meggan: You know, what we've already mentioned and more.
• 2:06
  Meggan: So I started thinking about this topic really because we are nearing our trip to Iceland, like we mentioned, and going to a clinic on our very first day of travel in June of 2018 was something that I had to do.
• 2:19
  Meggan: Knock on wood.
• 2:20
  Meggan: I don't think this is wood, but we're going to pretend.
• 2:22
  Meggan: Wait, there we go.
• 2:25
  Meggan: so, um, knock on wood.
• 2:26
  Meggan: That was literally the only time I have to do that.
• 2:28
  Meggan: So.
• 2:29
  Meggan: What we did was we searched on Google Maps, of course, we found the closest clinic, we walked in, I got registered.
• 2:38
  Meggan: Some clinics are actually free.
• 2:39
  Meggan: Like in Spain, I think for an example, I saw a video and the individual was like, the clinic was actually free.
• 2:44
  Meggan: So others, you will have to pay a fee upfront, even if you have travel insurance.
• 2:50
  Meggan: So save your bill to submit when you get home.
• 2:53
  Meggan: For the one in Iceland, I did have to pay, and then we sat in the waiting room for maybe 10 minutes.
• 2:58
  Meggan: I was called, assessed, and then headed to the pharmacy with a prescription.
• 3:02
  Meggan: I got called in to see the doctor so quickly that we both thought we'd fallen asleep, and had been there a long time when they called my name.
• 3:09
  Meggan: Like, we were so delirious.
• 3:10
  Meggan: We're like, have we been sleeping for like two hours?
• 3:12
  Meggan: Because in Canada, you'd never get called in 10 minutes.
• 3:16
  Meggan: We literally thought we were sleeping.
• 3:18
  Meggan: Anyway, it was a dream.
• 3:21
  Meggan: Overall, it was a dream, in a good way, and I was awake.
• 3:24
  Meggan: It was incredibly easy, and fast, and efficient, and looking back and knowing what I know now, I might have just visited a pharmacy instead, because that probably would have been cheaper for me as well, but you live and you learn, and now you know.
• 3:38
  Meggan: So my suggestion is to try the pharmacy first, and if you need a prescription, well, there you are.
• 3:46
  Meggan: And if they can't help you, of course, they're going to point you in the direction of the closest clinic, so it's a win win.
• 3:52
  Meggan: They can help you, they'll tell you hopefully down the street to your left, and it will be easier for you that way.
• 3:58
  Meggan: So travel expert and knower of all the things, uh, based on true life experiences, Rick Steves has a really great guide on his site for all the things you should know when you're visiting Europe.
• 4:10
  Meggan: and potential medical issues and we will be sure to link that in the show notes so that you can read up on it yourself to be better prepared.
• 4:18
  Meggan: So Jenn, have you ever had to visit a pharmacy while traveling or a clinic?
• 4:24
  Jenn: I haven't knock on wood all the way.
• 4:27
  Jenn: I, I have traveled with somebody who has had to access medical care and they needed more care than a clinic or a pharmacy could give them.
• 4:34
  Jenn: But we had a really good experience calling the non emergency line.
• 4:39
  Jenn: Um, to speak with like a nurse in Scotland and they were luckily, um, treated and on their way quickly, which was really great.
• 4:49
  Jenn: And I do think that pharmacies in general are super underutilized, especially here in Nova Scotia.
• 4:54
  Jenn: Pharmacies can assess and prescribe treatments for like UTIs, for contraception, for shingles, including, um, emergency contraception as well.
• 5:04
  Jenn: So, and shingles and more.
• 5:06
  Jenn: And I, so I think it's just really important.
• 5:09
  Jenn: To use that there, like, you know, anyone who has a family doctor knows how hard it is to get an appointment.
• 5:16
  Jenn: And anyone who doesn't have a family doctor knows how hard it is to get an appointment at a clinic.
• 5:21
  Jenn: So it is definitely a challenge out there.
• 5:25
  Jenn: All
• 5:25
  Meggan: Yeah I couldn't agree more.
• 5:26
  Meggan: Pharmacies, you know, going forward will definitely be on a trip, my sort of go to, unless it's more of an emergency.
• 5:33
  Meggan: So that is it for this week's Travel Tip Tuesday.
• 5:35
  Meggan: Here's hoping on my next adventure, and of course yours as well, but for me personally, um, that when we go to Iceland in a few short weeks, it will not involve a pharmacy or a clinic.
• 5:47
  Meggan: So please, like, send out some wee good vibes into the universe for me, if you would.
• 5:53
  Meggan: Thank you.
• 5:54
  Meggan: Um, so thank you as always for tuning into the show.
• 5:56
  Meggan: You can find us on social media at travel mug podcast on our website at travelmugpodcast.
• 6:02
  Meggan: com.
• 6:03
  Meggan: Support the show and help us keep the lights on around here through a donation at buy me a coffee.
• 6:07
  Meggan: The link is in the show notes or leave us a review on apple or spotify.
• 6:13
  Meggan: Until next time safe travels and bye.