Different countries have different standards and resources for emergency care, and the American College of Emergency Physicians promotes emergency medicine as a specialty across the world, offering training and the latest research to physicians and medical providers in an effort to help them strengthen their medical systems.

Before you travel out of the country, develop a plan for medical emergencies and decide in advance to avoid risky situations and behaviors. Always check with your physician and travel clinic or public health department about any immunizations and medical documentation you will need, specific to the area you are traveling. Notify close friends and family members of your itinerary, and keep the names and phone numbers of emergency contacts back home with you  so that they may be contacted in case of a medical emergency.

If you are older or have chronic health problems, plan for different scenarios and take extra precautions. If your trip will be physically strenuous, get a medical checkup before you go.

You should also:

• Keep a medical identification card with you that includes all your medications and medical history. 
• If you are on medications, take enough with you for the entire trip, and bring the prescriptions as well — in case you need to show them to customs and immigration authorities. 
• If you have any medical devices (e.g., a pacemaker), bring the technical information with you in case you have problems (e.g., need a pacemaker battery change). This information is available through services such as MedicAlert.
• Get traveler’s health insurance and learn about the limitations of your health insurance plan. Most do not cover medical problems in other countries, and if you have a medical problem, the foreign country may require you to pay all medical bills up front before you can leave the country. Traveler’s gap coverage is inexpensive and it will cover whatever medical costs your health insurance plan does not cover. 
• If you don’t speak the language in the country you are visiting, use a translation book to write down important information you may need to communicate in a medical emergency. Take this with you on your journey. The MedicAlert Foundation offers translation services in more than 140 languages.
  

Travelers to foreign countries also should check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traveler’s website for health information about the country. Become familiar with any potential medical threats (e.g., disease outbreaks, motor vehicle safety considerations, poisonous snakes or marine animals, etc.), and learn about the climate so you can dress appropriately. Follow any guidance related to precautions and immunizations http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx

If traveling to a tropical country, the CDC website also has the latest advice about infectious disease,  sexually transmitted disease and  any food or water issues.

Special Cases

• If you have a chronic disease (e.g., diabetes or renal problems) make sure there are physicians in the country you are visiting who can treat your condition. If you are on dialysis, make dialysis arrangements before you travel. 
• If you travel for medical treatment to another country (medical tourism), make sure you plan for worst case scenarios, including your death, and designate someone as your power of attorney.
• For scuba divers, get divers’ insurance for the treatment of dysbaric (decompression illness) emergencies. For more information , visit the Divers Alert Network. DAN www.diversalertnetwork.org.

Never go alone or unannounced into remote areas of foreign countries as it could be extremely dangerous. If you want to travel to remote areas, first report to the local police station (your local travel agent should do this for your) and leave a passport number and a route with them.

If you need medical treatment while in a foreign country, find an advocate who speaks English as well as the local language who will help you. For a directory of English-speaking physicians worldwide who also have been trained either in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom, contact the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers at 716-754-4883. This nonprofit organization also offers personal clinical record forms, foreign immunization information and worldwide climate charts.
 
Finally, always carry a copy of your passport with you, and keep it in a separate location in case your original passport is lost or stolen. It’s also a good idea to store an electronic copy in your email in-box and on your cell phone, if possible, along with other information, such as health insurance policy numbers and contact information.