When your child is injured it is always distressing. Even more so if you are away from home. Road accidents, sickness from food and drink, injuries around the pool and sporting accidents are all common while abroad. If you are in an accident due to the negligence of a third party, then you may need a local lawyer. A quick google search will enable you to find what you need, for example, ‘Tampa personal injury lawyer’.
The first thing to do after your child is injured is to see if they are ok. If they are seriously hurt, then don’t move them and ask someone to call an ambulance for you. If they seem ok, then you should still have them checked by a doctor. Find out information about where the local hospital is and take your child to be seen. If your child has any medical conditions make sure that the doctors are aware of this.
Depending on the nature of the accident you may also need to report it to the local police.
Before you leave the scene, however, take photos of the area in which they were injured. Did they trip over something? Was the floor wet? Make sure that these things are documented. You may also want to gather evidence from any witnesses. Take down their names and contact information.
If you are somewhere where you can’t speak the language, then you may want to find someone to come with you who can translate. The best thing to do to be prepared for this is to buy a local sim card wherever you go. Local sim cards are usually very cheap and will give you access to the internet and phone calls while you are away. Another option is to pre-download a translation app. Having the means to translate information could be very important.
Contact your travel insurance as soon as possible, they may ask for evidence from you which you can only gather while you are still abroad. Keep any proof of expenses so that you can claim them back.
If your child has an accident while abroad, the steps that you should take are much the same as if you were at home. However, added stress comes into play as you may be somewhere unfamiliar. Try and stay calm – this will help your child to stay calm. Tend to your child’s needs first and then see a doctor, contact the police and talk to your insurance provider. If you are somewhere where you do not speak the language, try and enlist the help of someone at your hotel. Additionally, have a means of translation with you beforehand when you go away.
When you come back home, get your child looked over by your usual doctor, even if they seem ok. It is always best to be over-precautious when it comes to your child’s health. Accidents can happen anywhere so don’t allow it to stop you from planning your next trip away!
Leave a Reply