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I don’t know about you, but when traveling with kids, I assume someone is going to get sick.  If not sick, then they will get a bee sting, have an asthma attack, or break a bone (I have two boys).  Even without kids, taking an extended vacation to a foreign land could find you in a precarious situation should you get sick, or if you are injured.  We spend so much time and money on making sure our RV’s are well maintained and ready to ride, that sometimes we forget to take the same care of ourselves!

First and foremost, you need an RV first aid kit.  A first aid kit should be a given, even for your regular automobile.  For the RV, I suggest building your own first aid kit.  What I did, since I am incredibly cheap, and also resourceful, was purchase an aluminum makeup case on eBay.  Here is an example of what I purchased, but I paid less than $20 (including shipping!) http://www.yazmo.com/aluminummakeuptraincase.aspx .  I liked this case because it has a strap, which really comes in handy, and also has two levels, with dividers to divide up the top sections.  Another great idea would be to use a plastic toolbox.  You can get these incredibly cheap at Wal-Mart, and you can find them for pennies at garage and yard sales.  Then, once you have your case, it is time to fill it up with everything you could need.  Again, I do my very best to spend as little as possible, so I hit up a few stores, including the local 99 cent stores, to find what I needed.  Here is what is stocked in my first aid kit:

- Band-aids (all sizes, including butterfly)
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Tylenol & Motrin (Adults & Children Over 12)
- Aspirin (ONLY for adults)
- Children’s Tylenol & Children’s Motrin
- Scissors
- Insect Repellent (!!!!!!!!!)
- Gauze, Medical Tape
- Sunscreen (including travel sizes for hiking and/or walking)
- Sunburn Ointment (Aloe Vera Gel)
- Alcohol, Witch Hazel, Hydrogen Peroxide
- Syrup of Ipecac
- Bee Sting Kit
- Snake Bite Kit
- Poison Ivy Cream
- Pepto Bismal
- Tums
- Latex Gloves (non-latex if you are allergic)
- Antiseptic wipes
- Q-tips
- Hot & Cold Pack
- Tweezers
- Thermometer
- Nail Clippers
- Needle and Thread
- General First Aid Manual

I would suggest printing out your list, then going through your medicine cabinet first.  This is also a great opportunity to go through your cabinet to make sure nothing is past its expiration date, and to ensure all your bottles are closed, and in good condition.  A week before we left for our trip, the kids and I all had medical physicals, and I asked our doctor and nurse if they had any supplies they could donate and boy did they ever!  They gave us wipes, gloves, children’s Tylenol (in individual packaging…so easy and convenient!), and many other sample sized goodies.  Then, once you determine what you have, you will know what you need to buy.  In addition to Wal-Mart and other discount stores, I often shop at Costco.  Certain items like band-aids, gauze and q-tips have no expiration date, and can therefore be used forever.  However, many of these items do have expiration dates, so be careful when purchasing that bottle of 1000 Tums!

Next up, is medications, if you require them.  I am relatively young (37 years YOUNG at the time of the trip), but due to an auto accident 9 years ago, I do take medication for chronic pain.  This was actually quite the ordeal, as the medication I take is a “Schedule 2” medication, which requires a new paper prescription each and every month.  Luckily, I was very fortunate to have a doctor who was a very understanding mother, and she was willing to work with me and make this happen.  My middle child, my youngest son, has asthma, and he takes a total of 4 medications a month.  Again, we were fortunate that our doctor was willing to work with us.  For the most part, physicians are willing to write scripts for 90 days of prescriptions.  Everywhere I went in Alaska and Canada, had all the large pharmacy chains that are down here in the lower 48, including Wal-Mart‘s.  My only problem is that I am insured through Kaiser Permanente (boo!), which is a huge HMO here in California, so any medications purchased at non-Kaiser pharmacies had to be reimbursed after filing a claim.  All pharmacies are willing and able to transfer your prescription from your current pharmacy, and this is a free service.  The only possible problem could be in Canada, where certain medications are not available, so be sure to discuss this with your physician should you have any questions.  One last important note, is that you will need to keep all prescription medications in their pharmacy labeled bottles, as you might be required to show them to the border agents at the checkpoint.  Since many Americans routinely cross into Canada for discount medications, this is something the agents are on the alert for.  So, be sure to keep all medications in their bottles.  I know many people transfer their medications to daily/monthly pill containers, to simplify pill taking, and to use them as reminders.  If you do this, be sure to also bring your empty pill bottle.  It could be required, and if you have prescription medication WITHOUT a doctor's prescription, you could be in a great deal of trouble.  This is especially so if you take a medication that can be easily abused, such as painkillers (Vicodin, Codeine, Percocet, etc), and benzodiazepines (Valium, Ativan, Xanax).

Speaking of health insurance, if you have insurance, check your policy to determine what benefits you have out of state and out of country (often referred to as “Out-of-Network“).  Often, insurance policies are filled with legalese and insurance jargon, so if you don’t understand, be sure to call your insurer’s customer service department, and ask them to help you understand it.  I find that insurance company adjusters will look for any reason to decline or reject a claim, so be sure to read the fine print, and follow their instructions carefully.  For the most part, should you need the services of a physician, you will have to pay for the visit out of pocket, file a claim with your insurance company, and then get reimbursed.  The reimbursement will depend on your coverage, and could be anywhere from 40-100%.  I hate all the paperwork required when seeing an out-of-network doctor, so both times we needed a doctor visit (one for a spider bite, one for an asthma attack), I used a local family practitioner who also saw patients on a walk-in/urgent care basis.  The Montana visit cost $65, and the Yukon Territory visit cost just $41!  I felt quite blessed to have found such a great rate, coming from doctors who gave such great care, that I didn’t even bother to seek reimbursements.  However, next time we take a similar vacation, I would definitely seek the reimbursement, and then donate that money back to the town or city where we sought the services.  I believe in giving back, and that is a pretty painless way to do so.

Also, check with your other insurance companies, to see what, if anything, they provide.  AAA, and other road side assistance companies often offer emergency health services, as does your auto insurance.  Mind you, these will vary greatly, so be certain to read all the fine print.  For the most part, quick routine visits are inexpensive and easy to find.  However, should you have a serious emergency, or need surgery or extended care, be sure to seek additional advice from someone qualified to provide it.  Now, I am a healthy woman, with three healthy children. Should your health be less than stellar, or if you have any chronic conditions, be sure to fully discuss this with your doctor.  Obviously, you can still take your RV vacation, and have a spectacular time.  But it is important to be prepared should anything go wrong.  Canada uses a national, publicly funded health care system, and it is different than what we are used to here in the States.  Common complaints concern the long wait times, and the shortage of medical professionals.  Due to these complaints, many Canadians travel here to the U.S. for medical care.  However, the Canadian medical system is still top notch, and amongst the best in the world.  Just be prepared should you need any medical care.  On a side note, the cost of many prescription medications is much cheaper in Canada, so should you need to purchase any, it is the perfect opportunity to stock up, without causing your checkbook to go into shock.  (Side note, there are restrictions as to what you can legally take into Canada, and what you can bring back to the U.S.  I will go into detail about this in a future installment, all about crossing the border.)

As I mentioned earlier, we did all have thorough physicals prior to embarking on our journey.  I didn’t expect anything to pop up, and nothing did, but I was still glad we did it, and it was assuring to know we were all heading out in the best possible heath.  The doctor made sure we were all healthy, and spent some time with us answering any questions we might have.  My main concern was my son’s asthma and allergies, and whether there was anything I needed to be concerned with, or anything I needed to look out for.  Luckily, Canada is just like America, and didn‘t even seem like a foreign country.  I was a tad worried as I had needed medical care in Mexico on a few occasions and it was nothing short of a nightmare.  Furthermore, being in a foreign land, and being ill can be very scary.  But Canada was incredible, and I knew I was always in good hands.  Obviously Alaska is in the US, and the cities have all the same medical resources that we have in the lower 48.  The small towns and little villages had less available, but that goes for anywhere.  Just be certain to take some extra time to check out your destination should you have any health concerns. For people with allergies, check out the areas where you are going, and be prepared.  Even though our vacation was very laid back, we were extremely active.  My children are obviously always active, but even I really moved around a lot.  We did a great deal of walking and hiking, and it is important to be in good shape.  But trust me, you will not regret it!  Hiking in Alaska and Canada was such an amazing and exhilarating experience.  The land is so pristine, and the air is so fresh, so clean, and so invigorating. Even the sky seems different, and cleaner.  It is the perfect place to replenish your soul.

As with all of the articles leading up to our trip, it is important to be prepared.  Taking care of our health is often something we don’t do until something is wrong.  It is never fun getting sick, but getting sick on the road, in a different country or state, can be downright scary.  Before you embark, make sure you are 100% healthy, and that your doctor feels you are healthy enough to go.  Be sure you have a first aid and medical kit, so you are fully prepared for all the little mishaps that seem to creep up along the way.  Know your health insurance company’s rules about out-of-network care, and be sure to pack your insurance ID cards and a copy of the policy. (Side note, keep your health insurance cards and policy’s in a safe place.  If you keep your ID cards in your wallet, make a few photocopies and stash one in the glove box, and one in your “Important Papers File”. But be sure to keep them protected, as no one wants to deal with identity theft during a vacation!)  Also, while you are away on your trip, take care of yourself.  Be wary of germs, and always wash your hands.  Try to wipe off the surfaces you touch often, like door knobs, handles, and the steering wheel.  Antibacterial wipes always come in handy!  Especially when traveling, when you are constantly in public areas, and not in your own home.  We used these ones from Walgreen’s, as they were incredibly cheap, and we liked the smell.   http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?id=prod354367&CATID=100327&sk... .   However, so many different varieties are now available, including the classic “Wet-Ones” anti-bacterial baby wipes, so choose whichever ones you like best, just be sure to use them!  We also have small bottles of Purell stashed everywhere, and I did my best to keep our bus clean and germ free, without getting to the point of being obsessive.  I am happy to report that outside of a spider bite, a few asthma attacks, some scratches and bruises, poison ivy, and some tummy aches, we all stayed incredibly healthy.  Mind you, all the above were kid issues that would have happened at home too…kids, they are always getting into something!

Please come back on Tuesday, September 23rd for our ninth installment, “You Want Me To Drive For How Long? - Know Your Limits“.  See you there!