If you received an email from me last week saying I’m stuck in London, you know that my computer was hacked. The irony is that I actually was in London the week prior and like my computer suffered from a virus.

In all fairness to the English, the virus came from my New York City-dwelling brother who kindly packed it and brought it along to five of the six of us traveling together.

Several trips to the chemist (their word for pharmacy) allowed us to treat our symptoms and power through our flu-like, bronchitis-like, sinus infections. Talk about hacking! But, it made me think what it would be like to be in a country where there isn’t a common language.

If you’re concerned, and I know you are, don’t worry it really didn’t spoil our trip. Not like poor George Clooney who contracted malaria in the Sudan, not once but twice this year! Not that you may be going to the Sudan, but you should take precautions if leaving this country for any other.

While in the travel planning stages, take a trip to the Centers of Disease Controls website. Posted at www.cdc.gov/travel are any advisories in effect and all the information you need regarding immunizations required for the location you’re visiting and whether there are any health alerts in all countries including our own.

Plan to see your healthcare provider at least six weeks before you leave. The clinician can advise you on what medications to take along particularly if you’re traveling with children and give you the necessary inoculations as they often take a few weeks to be effective.

Get a written prescription to carry along for any of your regular meds and take a few extra days supply in case your flights are delayed. Always carry prescription medicines in your carry on and check to see if they need to be in their original containers, as some countries require that, I know China does. Also some countries don’t allow some meds, so check on that too.

For safety sake scan a copy of all your documents — passports, visas, prescriptions, insurance and credit cards into your computer and give them to a trusted friend or family member, just in case you get robbed, detained or incarcerated, heaven forbid. I don’t mean to scare you, but I’m glad my email scammer just captured my contact list and not me!

Pack an emergency kit. It should include antihistamines, pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medicine and a laxative, because you never know, do you? A decongestant is good as are cough lozenges.

Anti-motion sickness pills, anti-fungal and anti-bacteria and hydrocortisone ointments and creams, insect repellents, sunscreen and lubricating eye drops are all good to have on hand.

Add bandages, antiseptic, tweezers, scissors, cotton swabs, Moleskin for blisters and aloe for sunburn. You may want to include a digital thermometer, a mild sedative or sleep aid and water purification tablets.

Make good use of hand sanitizer lotion and wipes particularly while on public transportation. Turn away from someone coughing or sneezing. Oh, and also look into a supplement to your health insurance policy, many of us aren’t covered outside the US and emergency treatment can destroy your souvenir fund.

Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at [email protected], 264-4029.