We are not insurance agents or lawyers. So we are not going to tell you what is best for you to do. However, MedJet Assist is the medical part that we purchased. For a few hundred dollars a year, they will pick you up anywhere in the world and fly you home in a medically equipped jet air ambulance in the unfortunate case you are injured or sick. The insurance lasts for a full year and has no restrictions on how much or where you travel. The fact is that you really don’t want to be treated in any of the local “health care sites” with a pitiful few exceptions. You’ll have seen it on TV so without expanding on that, I will leave that picture up to your imagination.

Vaccinations (a critical part of prevention) have to be considered. As a child/young adult all of us should have been vaccinated against Tetanus, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Polio and hopefully your primary care physician has kept these up to date. Also, since the 1980’s and early 1990’s all children should have immunized against Hepatitis B and Pertussis but not most of us older folks. Kids however aren’t given small pox vaccines so things aren’t at all static. We suggest that prior to your next hunting trip anywhere (US included) ensure you’re up to date with your immunizations. General recommendations are below followed by more specific suggestions.

A. You have received a Tetanus/Diphtheria (T/D) vaccine in the last 10 years.

B. If you are older than 50 years old, or if you have medical problems that you receive the last years and this years Flu shot (remember, the Flu hits different parts of the world at different times not just winter like the U.S.).

C. If you are older than 65 years old or if you have medical problems that you receive the Pneumonia vaccine (Pneumococcal) in the last 10 years.

D. You have received at least one; Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine in your life.

E. You have had the Chickenpox or received a Varicella vaccine This one requires 2 doses 4-8 weeks apart.

F. We suggest everybody traveling outside the U.S. to a developing country receive the Hepatitis A vaccine (requires 2 doses 6-12 months apart). Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver and is the most frequent vaccine preventable infection of travelers to any developing country.

Once these general protections are secure, you must now determine which of the numerous remaining vaccines you specifically need based on season and destination. Hepatitis B, Meningococcal (for meningitis), Yellow Fever (required by some countries before you will be allowed entry), Polio, Rabies, Typhoid, Anthrax, Tuberculosis and Japanese Encephalitis are all preventable through available vaccines. This is where it can get really complicated but believe it or not, our government has simplified the process tremendously. Visit CDC (Center for Disease Control) online and click on "TRAVELER’S HEALTH" and all the extra needed information is at your fingertips. Pick your location under "DESTINATIONS" and everything you need to know about all medical precautions for that area is there including vaccines. This site is updated regularly.

Malaria is a real concern in parts of Africa but not everywhere. Malaria is not some abstract point we are trying to make, it is the real deal. Millions die yearly from Malaria. CDC's Traveler's Health will give you a detailed map of where they recommend someone traveling to should take prophylactic medication. It requires a simple prescription from your family doctor and you are good to go.

George Carlin did a routine about the differences between a drug and a medicine over 30 years ago. At an international border this is no joke. You must have all your medicines in their original bottles. The prescription must be in your name. Spousal medications, even if totally benign are just that; not yours and hence illegally possessed. Trust us that customs officers may take great exception to a bottle of different colored pills coming into their country. In Africa or really any international border and especially upon returning home to the USA, the customs response will vary by which officer, which country, which location in a given country and even their mood that day. You may hear options that range from 1) be more careful next time 2) throw all this away 3) non-admittance to the country 4) handcuffs. If you are prescribed scheduled classes of medication then do not take more pills in the bottle than you will need. If you are taking something twice a day and plan a 14 day trip, don’t bring 28 days worth because you filled the Rx a couple of days before your trip. A few days extra pills yes...more than a few and eyebrows may be raised. Samples are a no-no unless signed and dated by the doctor who gave them to you. Finally to my doctor brethren, the English language does not have a word to describe how little our licenses mean in other countries.

As medical doctors we take along an emergency medical kit that contains sutures, scalpels, injectables and stuff we really don’t want to have to use. We have treated camp staff, PHs, ourselves, friends and the occasional local. We also take antibiotics for specific issues that we suggest you discuss this with your doctor prior to going since prescriptions will be necessary. It is beyond the scope of this article, not to mention impossible to teach you to be an EMT. There is no harm done, however in buying the inexpensive Red Cross first aid manual and going through it before you leave. We’ll be brutally honest here; CPR in the bush isn’t like on TV. Serious wounds, broken bones, snakebite etc need to be evacuated ASAP.