Medevac Experts Release 10 Tips for Spring Break Safety
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 11, 2010) – Medical evacuation membership program Air Ambulance Card is releasing its Spring Break 2010 Travel Safety Tips. The advice is compiled from years of transport of sick and injured travelers. “This is what we’d be telling our own kids if they were traveling for spring break this year,” said Air Ambulance Card Managing Director Stan Bradley. More details can be found online at www.AirAmbulanceCard.com/blog.
- Register International Travel with the State Department, https://travelregistration.state.gov in case of a family emergency in the U.S. or a crisis where you are.
- Know the Law. While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. Research the country online, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/safety/safety_2836.html
- Avoid Drugs and Limit Alcohol. Many travelers are injured or killed in car accidents and other incidents involving alcohol and/or drug use. Avoid illegal drugs and limit legal alcohol consumption.
- Be Watchful. Americans have been sexually assaulted or robbed because they found themselves in unfamiliar locales, were incapable of protecting themselves because of drug or alcohol use or were the victim of a “date rape” drug.
- Road Rules. Motor vehicles accidents are the most common cause of death of Americans overseas after natural causes. Standards of safety overseas may differ from those in the U. S.
- Water Warning. Do not dive into unknown bodies of water. Hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause injury or death. Only rent equipment like scooters, jet-skis or scuba gear from reputable operators and insist on sufficient training.
- Think About Emergencies Now. U.S. medical insurance generally is not accepted outside the United States. Check to see if your carrier will reimburse you and consider a short term foreign travel policy if not. Medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost more than $50,000. Consider a medical evacuation membership plan and read the fine print to be sure it will get you to the hospital OF YOUR CHOICE. www.AirAmbulanceCard.com.
- Check Medications. Make sure all medicines are in bottles with drug store labels. Carry copies of the prescriptions and make sure you have enough to last the trip.
- Have duplicates of travel documents. Leave a copy of your passport and itinerary at home. Do not carry documents, money and credit cards in the same pocket.
- Establish a Routine. Let everyone know where you will be. Plan regular check in times and stick to them.
Air Ambulance Card® flies sick or injured members home to the US or Canadian hospital of their choice when they are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, domestically or internationally. The membership program offers services for a period of one year to families or individuals, and corporate accounts. Air Ambulance Card memberships are available to residents of the U.S. and Canada and cost $195 per year for individuals and $295 per year for families. For more information visit www.AirAmbulanceCard.com.
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Mr. Jackson has a B.S. degree from Auburn University and a J.D. degree from Jones Law School. He is CPA and member of the Alabama Bar and the American Bar Association. Mr. Jackson was the Chief Executive of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, a 750 physician multi-specialty group practice at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for 8 years. He also served for three years as the Vice President of Finance and Administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He was directly responsible for the financial management of both the university, the group practice, as well a 900-bed tertiary care hospital, with a combined budget of $1.9 billion. Mr. Jackson has 20 years experience in healthcare management and 30 years total experience in financial management. In 1992 he was directly responsible for creating the first large group covered by a subscription-based, prepaid air medical transportation program. He has served with Air Ambulance Card, LLC since its incorporation in 2002.
Mr. Bradley has a B.A. degree from the University of Alabama. For 20 years he held marketing executive positions and general sales manager positions with local Birmingham television stations. For 9 years he was President of Illustrated Care, Inc. a company which he founded that produced and marketed patient and physician educational videos nationwide, produced custom medical education and marketing videos, provided marketing and advertising services to medical groups nationwide. In 1992, he became associated with MEDjet International and since then he has been directly involved with air ambulance operations and operations of the subscription-based, prepaid air medical transportation program. He has served with Air Ambulance Card, LLC since its incorporation in 2002.