That's My Story

Published week of July 7, 2006 – Western Outdoor News Regular Baja Column

Some clients of mine had the type of rough week down here that I would wish on no one. It’s rare, but it can happen as easily I guess as in Mexico as it can in Egypt, Italy or Japan if you’re vacationing this summer.

You’re traveling and you or someone else gets hurt. It’s an accident, but you’re far from home. You don’t speak the language. You have no idea how the phones work. You have no idea what to do or who to talk to.

My buddy’s wife got brushed over a small cliff when a speeding drunken driver veered over onto the sidewalk. It was nighttime and dark. The other members in the group scattered and dove one way. She dove the other, right over a concrete embankment and down a cliff hitting nothing but air until her head and shoulder hit directly on the concrete and rocks below with a snap and a crack. Pandemonium set in with panic. (The diot driver, by the way, stumbles out of his vehicle screaming at everyone else about “running his evening” even though he was on the wrong side of the road. No remorse.)

Fortunately, we were able to get medical help and the right people to do the right things. She was flown home for emergency surgery after some intense emergency room treatment at the local hospital. In the middle of all this, her own husband had a near heart attack which brought in another whole set of doctors and additions to the crisis.

Short of finding yourself standing in your nightie in the dark on a ship named “Titanic” , the above is a nightmare of the worst kind for vacationers. It’s one thing to lose your luggage or have your flight delayed. If you think about it, there’s a big difference between an “inconvenience” and “life and death.” Most things that piss us off in life are usually nothing more than inconveniences of one type or another. It’s really different when all the red lights are going off in your brain.

So, what d’ya do?

Prevention is best. Short of just using common sense and not doing stoooopid things that would get you hurt even at home like drinking and driving; jumping off hotel roofs into swimming pools; or playing with spearguns, sometimes stuff just happens. Just keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings even if you’re on your 5th pina colada.

Bring your medical insurance papers when you travel and, like your passport and i.d., make a photocopy of it and keep it someplace different than your originals. Oh…it also helps to tell your traveling companions where you stealthily hid it too! Don’t be such a clever ninja.

If you need prescripton medications, bring extra, just in case you’re delayed. Bringing a copy of your prescription is also a good idea to show to a doctor or to get additional refills if needed. If you’re traveling with a child, this is doubly important. If only one parent is with the child, carry a notarized letter from the non-traveling parent giving the traveling parent power to make any medical decisions if necessary.

By the way, carry your prescriptions WITH you! Several weeks ago I had a client who arrived, but one of his duffle bags went to Zimbabwe or somewhere. It arrived two days later. OK, the bag had some reels in it. That could be remedied. However, he also stuck his asthma and heart medications in there too! His negligence suddenly became everyone else’s emergency.

Additionally, I usually frown on using my credit cards because of the high transaction fees, but credit cards are ideal to have in an emergency. Don’t use it to buy your kid a t-shirt or for that bottle opener shaped like a lizard. Use it to get medical care or to buy a quick airline ticket home…stuff like that. Understandably, a medical provider is much more inclined to treat you if they know you can pay for it either with a credit card or medical insurance . When you or someone is hurting, you can argue about the 5 dollar aspirin later.

Speaking of insurance, if you’re driving, the few bucks for auto insurance is worth every penny in an accident. In Mexico, they go by the old Napoleanic Code from their days when France ran things here. That means, you’re “guilty until you prove your innocence.” It also means, no treatment until you “show us the money.” It’s not personal. It applies to Mexicans as well as to you. So, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of pain. Your travel agent can also recommend travel insurance whereby in a serious accident, you can be covered for an emergency team from the U.S. to retrieve you and fly you out.

Many folks don’t realize. Most of the better hotels in Baja have a doctor and even dentists on staff or on call. As well, they can be your support to get an ambulance out to you if it’s something major. (Also, they also have first aid boxes usually at the reception desk for the more minor “emergencies” like cuts or Montezuma’s Revenge.) Last year, one of my good friends and clients had a bad diabetic attack and the doctor came right over; did an exam; popped an injection; gave him a pat on the head and charged 40 bucks.

Finally, the cell phone is the lifeline. Many of the U.S. carriers now work in Baja. Check to see if yours has coverage in the area you’re headed to and, if so, pay a few extra dollars and get the international plan for about 5 bucks so you can make and receive calls cheaply. Where I am in La Paz, T-Mobile, ATT, and Cingular work pretty well. Sometimes Verizon and Nextel do also, but coverage is expanding. In the larger cities, coverage is even better. Take a moment and learn to make and receive an international call. It’s easy. Also, Mexico has it’s own version of 911. Call 066 to get an emergency response.

At that moment where you need to have your wits about you, you’ll be better prepared. Safe travels to you all.
That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com