Don’t Let Injuries or Illnesses Ruin Your Next Vegas Family Vacation

It’s almost inevitable - you go on vacation, and someone gets sick or hurt. But don’t worry! There are steps you can take before your trip to be prepared as well as tips to keep in mind if someone does fall ill on your trip.

Tip #1 – Consider Travel Insurance

When you first book your trip or before you leave, look into travel insurance options. Travel insurance can offer you peace of mind should anything come up during your vacation, especially if you’re coming from outside of the US to visit Las Vegas.

In addition to trip cancellation, trip insurance often includes emergency medical benefits. If your trip is derailed due to a medical issue, travel insurance may be able to help you recoup some of your costs. And keep in mind that for many policies, kids under 18 are included at no additional cost on policies purchased by their parent or grandparent.

Check with your credit card providers before purchasing an additional policy. Some credit cards include travel insurance for purchases made on the card.

Tip #2 – Bring a First-Aid Kit

On vacation, you may eat more food than usual or encounter different kinds of plants or other environmental changes. Common Las Vegas calamities include sunburn, dehydration, heel blisters, sprains, upset stomach, allergies, and colds. Having a well-stocked first-aid kit can save your vacation. Consider including the following in your kit:

  1. Band-Aids, Gauze, Medical Tape

  2. First Aid Cream, like Neosporin & Antiseptic wipes

  3. Tums, Imodium, & Laxative

  4. Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen

  5. Benadryl

  6. Aloe Vera

  7. Tweezers & Scissors

  8. Disposable Gloves & Mask

  9. Thermometer

  10. Instant Cold Pack

Consider having a medical history form available for each traveler as well. If illness or injuries rise above the level of what you can handle with your first-aid kit, you’ll be glad to have these on hand.

Tip #3 – Familiarize Yourself with Local Medical Options

It’s always good to be prepared and know your options before you need them! There are several options near the Las Vegas strip to get medical care depending on what you need. You may want to see if any of these providers are in-network for your insurance plan, in case you need to utilize their services:

Many insurance plans offer a telehealth option. Depending on your situation, you may be able to receive medical attention this way.

Tip #4 – Bring all Prescriptions in Original Bottles

It’s always best to travel with any prescriptions in the original bottles. There are several CVS and Walgreens pharmacies up and down the Las Vegas Strip, so if you end up needing a refill, you can take the prescription bottle to the pharmacy and they can usually help get you what you need.

Have your ophthalmologist email you a copy of your current eye prescription in case you lose your glasses or need more contacts!

Tip #5 – Assess the Situation

If it’s a life-threatening emergency, first call 911. Tell them the name of the hotel where you are staying and your room number. Next, call the hotel operator to alert them to the situation. In larger hotels, the staff may be trained in emergency services or they may have emergency service personnel on site. The operator will also notify security to facilitate emergency personnel’s access to your room.

If it’s not a life-threatening emergency, next assess how quickly you need to seek medical attention and what level of medical attention you need. Many illnesses or injuries can be treated at a local urgent care, saving you a hospital trip for minor

Be sure to pack your insurance card. You should also take a photo of it on your phone in case you lose the card. Finally, be sure to check the coverage while traveling as some policies have limited coverage outside of your local network.

While we hope nothing happens during your trip, we do hope you feel a bit more prepared in case an issue does arise!