Motor Vehicle Travel: The Real "Death Zone" of International Travel

How do most physicians die in international medicine?

Here’s a pop quiz:  The most dangerous thing you and your companions will do while on your next expedition is:

(A) Trek to 14,000 feet while trying to avoid altitude sickness

(B) Push through that jungle trail hoping not to pick up a malaria parasite along the way

(C) Dive deep in the ocean while dodging Great Whites and the Bends

(D) Drive from the local airport to your hotel

If you answered “D” then give yourself a prize.

When most people think about international travel risks, they think about terrorists, wild animal attacks, exotic infectious diseases, or some other uniquely international threats such as lava flows or voodoo hexes.  However, many people are surprised to learn that statistically, the most dangerous thing they’ll do during their international trip is drive in an motorized vehicle.  Mountaineers talk about the “death zone” on a high-altitude peak, above which life is very sketchy.  For most international travelers, their “death zone” is a busy road in an unfamiliar international location.

According to an article published in the Public Health Reports , the most common way American civilians die abroad (excluding chronic "natural" causes such as heart disease or cancer that roughly correlate with typical US death rates for age and gender) is in traffic accidents.  The only recent exception to this rule is humanitarian workers in areas of conflict—in these cases intentional violence is the most common cause of death .

With so many people dying on the roads while traveling abroad, what are some basic travel-safety tips for medical officers to consider?  Below is an excerpt from the Travel Safety chapter of our Expedition & Wilderness Medicine textbook that was written by Dr. Michael VanRooyen, Director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative:

Consider a few practical tips for traveling via automobile when traveling abroad. This includes avoiding the temptation to drive yourself.  If you can hire a local driver, you might get a better sense of the region you are traveling, and if there is a traffic mishap, you are not held directly (and financially) accountable.  If you have to drive, take your time, know where you are going, and seek major routes.  It is also wise to avoid driving at night. Navigating the poorly lit roads in Nairobi in an unfamiliar vehicle, with many pedestrians walking along the road (as there are very few sidewalks) is a recipe for disaster, both for the person or persons you may hit, and for you. 

Helpful hints while driving abroad ( http://danger.mongabay.com/ )

• Become familiar with your vehicle in less crowded conditions
• Don’t drive at night
• Drive slowly and in control
• Avoid large gatherings or busy markets
• Wear a seat belt, always
• Avoid driving when you are suffering from jet lag

If you need to rent a car, look for a common type vehicle from a reputable dealer, and make sure the car is in good working order, making note of any preexisting body damage.  Consider getting a car with air conditioning so you can have the windows rolled up and the car locked when you are in it.  If you encounter what appears to be an informal road block or rocks across the road creating a makeshift barrier, there is a good likelihood that these are ploys to get you to stop. Turn around and drive away. Carjackers and thieves work in very organized groups around service stations, parking lots, markets and along major highways.  Be suspicious of anyone who flags you down, or points to your car to indicate a flat or an oil leak, hails you or tries to get your attention when you are in or near your car.

Also, it is generally unwise to rent a motorcycle or motor scooter.  While locals may be whirring conveniently around, nimbly navigating through traffic, as an outsider you have a reasonable chance of becoming a hood ornament, and being forced to be content with the local health care system. Many organizations who deploy field staff, the US Peace Corps included, have long since discouraged the use of motorcycles or scooters for their staff. 

When my wife and I first moved to Doha, Qatar, a very busy urban area well-known for its aggressive drivers, we opted to drive a very solid Toyota Land Cruiser and practiced our driving during times when traffic was less.   Within a short while, my wife and I could easily negotiate the local roundabouts without difficulty and had no problem following the rules of the road.  However, had we not taken our time to get acclimated to the new driving scene, we most likely would have had some problems.

Motor vehicle accidents are a serious problem and a leading cause of death for international travelers.  However, by following some common-sense tips for motor vehicle safety when traveling, you’ll do much to ensure the safety of yourself and your traveling companions.  Be aware of the risks while traveling in your international “death zone” and you’ll up your chances for a safe and enjoyable time while overseas.

Evaluating Your International Contract & Employment Opportunity: Questions For Your Potential Employer

Evaluating contracts and employment positions overseas is much like evaluating these things in the States, with a few unique issues that should be discussed prior to signing. 

Here are a few of the questions you should ask any international employer prior to agreeing to a contract.

1. Transportation

If you take a position in another country, by definition you’ll be traveling to another place for your work.  A good question to ask your employer is who will be paying your relocation expenses. 

Some companies will employ you once you arrive at their facility overseas but require you to foot the bill for airplane flights and shipment of your personal items.  Other companies will cover your plane tickets and help cover the costs of shipping your personal items, but will require you to cover anyone in your family who is traveling with you.  The best arrangement for you, of course, is if the company agrees to cover the airfare for you and your family plus the shipment and/or storage of your personal belongings.  It’s important that you ask about this issue up front since you want to be sure to budget for any necessary expenses.

Once on the ground in your new “home,” be sure to ask how you’ll be traveling from home to work and around town.  Can you take public transportation?  Does the company provide a vehicle or do you need to provide your own?  If you are responsible for your own transportation, are there options to rent a vehicle or do most employees buy? 

If you will be driving yourself, be sure to ask about driving laws and restrictions.  Driving regulations can differ significantly from country to country and in some nations, driving may not be allowed.  For instance, in Bermuda, visitors are not allowed to rents cars (only scooters) while in Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive.  Always remember that when you are in a foreign country, you are under the laws of that country.  As strange or unfair as some of the regulations might appear to you, the “that’s not how we do it back home” defense rarely flies when stopped by local authorities.

2.  Housing

An important aspect of your new employment will be discussing where you will live.  Good questions to ask your future employer are whether housing will be provided and if so, will you be given a certain house to use or a housing allowance? 

The house versus housing allowance issue is more than simply semantics.  A housing allowance gives you more flexibility, but a house protects you from rising house rental prices and other possible uncertainties.  For instance, if you are given a housing allowance you can shop around for accommodations that fit you better—a larger home for a family with children or maybe a flat in the city if you’re single.  However, if you are given a house, you are protected somewhat from the rising cost of rent or the uncertainty of where you will live once you arrive.  Regardless, this is a good conversation to have with your employer from the outset.

Another housing question to be considered is how far the housing is from your work site.  A home across the street from work is a big difference than one located out of town.  I have friends, for example, who actually live in the country of Bahrain and commute into the country of Saudi Arabia each day for work.  Yet another question is whether you have veto power over where you live.  If you arrive and the home you are given seems unsafe or unclean, can you move to another location or are you stuck with what’s been given?  Last, an often overlooked aspect of housing is who pays the utilities.  In a country with temperature extremes, this could make a significant difference with your monthly bills.  Find out in advance who is responsible for the utilities as well as who to call in case of maintenance issues (and who pays for any repair bills). 

3. Salary and Cost of Living Issues

Obviously, when you are negotiating a contract with any employer, salary needs to be discussed.  However, when working in a foreign country it is important to ask in what currency you will be paid.  It makes a big difference whether you are paid 80,000 US dollars or 80,000 pesos, for example.  Also, remember that since you are living in a foreign country, international exchange rates now affect your monthly income and purchasing power in obvious ways.  With the falling US dollar, many expatriates I know who are paid in USD’s have seen their relative income drop every year.  The flip side of this equation is that if you are paid in a foreign currency that is rising against the US dollar, you are in affect getting a raise each year relative to your income back in the States.

Be sure to accurately estimate your living expenses each month.  We’ve already discussed transportation and housing costs, but be sure to look into such monthly expenses as food and the cost of standard household items like toothpaste, soap, cleaning supplies, etc…  In some countries these things will be extremely cheap, but in others they could be very high.  Just make sure you know what you’re getting into.

4.  Other Issues to Consider

There are always lots of little loose ends to consider when making a move to work overseas.  There’s no way to cover everything, but a few more things to keep in mind and ask about prior to departure:

• What about education for children?  Are there educational opportunities for your kids and if so, who pays.  I know certain Oil executives who have their children’s school tuitions written into their contract as part of their benefits package.  In some countries, the price of an English-speaking school is very high.  In other countries, it simply isn’t available.
• Have a plan to deal with any chronic medical issues you or your family may have.  Try to pack a few months worth of any necessary meds and be sure to ask about healthcare in the region.  If you’re the only medical professional within 100 miles, you need to know this going in and plan accordingly.
• Who actually is your employer?  This sounds like a silly question except sometimes it’s a difficult one to answer.  Depending on how your contract is structured, you might be an employee of the hospital, or a placement company, or some other entity.  If you sign a contract with an American company that then places you overseas, you in theory have more protections (due to American labor laws) than if you sign directly with a foreign company or government.  Foreign contracts are subject to foreign law, which may differ significantly from American law. For instance, in some countries, an employer can fire an employee for any reason without any notice whatsoever, without appeal.  If your contract is with an American employer, however, you should be given due process during any contract issues and at least have the security of knowing that you are protected under US state and federal labor laws.
• Be sure to ask about health insurance and whether you have American health insurance, health insurance applicable to your employment country, or both (or neither).  I know many expats who have had difficulty with this issue.  In some cases, the expat gets sick in the foreign country only to find out their health insurance only applies to American healthcare.  In other cases, an expat back home on leave gets sick and finds out their health insurance does not cover American healthcare, only healthcare in their country of employment.  Be sure to look into this issue prior to signing your contract and plan accordingly.
• The issue of pets is another one that can be very difficult.  Are pets allowed where you will be living?  Are your pets even allowed in the country in which you’ll be working?  In the Middle East, for instance, many breeds of dogs (specifically certain bulldog breeds) are not allowed into the country.  Exotic pets such as snakes and other unique animals are often difficult to bring into another country for any reason.  If you cannot bear the thought of leaving FiFi behind with friends or family while you’re away, make sure this issue is discussed before you sign a contract.

Working overseas can be a very rewarding experience.  Use these tips to avoid some common pitfalls and you’ll make your overseas experience a lot more enjoyable.

Crossing International Borders

If you’ve never had the pleasure of crossing a border into a remote part of a developing country, you’re in for a real treat.  Some of the best travel stories-- both good and bad-- occur at border crossings.

While most crossings involve little more than a little eye contact and a perfunctory paperwork inspection, things can turn bad in a hurry for those who are unprepared.  Stories abound on the international travel circuit of travelers being detained—or worse—when attempting to cross a border in a less-than-appropriate fashion.  If you’re going to be traveling in remote, undeveloped regions, it’s best to have a plan for handling the crossing of national borders.

For many Westeners—especially the inexperienced physician traveler—the idea that someone in a country that they’re “trying to help” might not believe their good intentions seems preposterous.  Regardless of your intentions, however, you can run into problems.

You might be the nicest, most altruistic person in the world but look at it from the perspective of a border guard:  you’re foreign, you probably don’t speak the native language, you might appear rude due to your dress or mannerisms, and if you’re a medical officer you’re probably carrying lots of suspicious-looking pills, tablets, instruments, and other doo-dads. 

In the first chapter of our Expedition & Wilderness Medicine textbook, Dr. Howard Donner has some helpful tips for dealing with border crossings.  I’m quoting Howard here at length: 

Don’t carry white powder in zip lock bags.  As obvious as this may sound, it is amazing how tablets of all sorts tend to break down with humidity and then slowly disintegrate in zip lock bags. A poorly identified zip lock bag, with pulverized white medicine inside, presents a rather suspect impression to a customs official.  Try to be meticulous with your drugs.  Place your medicines in clearly labeled zip lock bags or medicine vials. If you choose to use zip locks, protect them from physical damage inside of a sturdy kit or case.   The more organized the kit looks, the less dubious the custom’s officials seem to look. 

Carry a copy of your medical license.  Showing a customs official a photocopy of your medical license carries a bit more credibility than stating, “but I’m a doctor, really." 

Present a letter of introduction.  Customs officials seem to love embossed stationery or letters embellished with gold seals. These blank forms can be easily purchased through most office supply stores.  Even if you’re not traveling with the National Geographic Society, you can print up your own letter on embossed stationary. Introduce yourself as the expedition doctor for the “2008 blank blank expedition”.  As long as your name is on the letter, along with a signature from the sponsoring foundation, (such as a friend of yours), custom officials seem to relax.

-Dr. Howard Donner, Chapter One: The Expedition Physician in Expedition  & Wilderness Medicine

In addition to medical kit issues, another big problem with border crossing revolves around trying to exit a country with interesting items of question.  Remember that really cool “antique” the local hustler sold you outside the tourist area?  Turns out it’s a stolen artifact from the local museum.  Be wary of buying local valuables that are sold in a surreptitious manner.  At a border it will be you, not the local “entrepreneur,” who will be charged with theft and attempts to export a national heirloom. 

Also, remember that many animal products such as furs or trophies (especially of endangered species) cannot be taken home as well as most alcohol, plants, food items, and some forms of tobacco.  If there’s any question, it’s best not to attempt to transport it.  Just leave it alone and tell stories about “the one that got away” to your friends when you’re home safe and sound.

Even with all the proper documentation and appropriate behavior, frustrating things can still happen when attempting to cross a border.  Some seasoned travelers recommend having a few small "give away" items such as cigarettes, t-shirts of your favorite ball club, small candies, or other light-hearted gift items in your luggage to help sooth escalating tempers.  It's amazing what a small gift accompanied by a smile and a calm demeanor can do to improve a difficult situation.  

If things still go from bad to worse, the best advice is always be respectful, keep your eyes open and your mouth shut, and do not attempt to bluff your way through with threats or angry gestures.  Remember, this is not your home turf, you are not in charge, and you are very much at the mercy of the nearest supervisor in the area.  All your impressive credentials and academic publications won't matter at all to your cellmate in the local jail, and in this situation, Miranda rights certainly do not apply.

Border crossings are a normal part of international travel.  By keeping a few principles in mind, these events can become routine and fun rather than frustrating and frightening.

International Emergency Medicine

Here's a career focus that has tremendously expanded over the past decade for Emergency Medicine physicians:  International Emergency Medicine.

Not too long ago if you were an Emergency Physician and you wanted to do international work, you simply picked a geographic location and went.  There was no formal training and most practitioners learned by doing. 

While much of the international work done by these hardy individuals was well intentioned, many reported that it was difficult adjusting to a foreign assignment, especially in a remote region.  Few of these physicians had any training in tropical medicine and even fewer had exposure to public health.

In the 1990's a group of Emergency Physicians with extensive experience in international and remote medical care came together to attempt to codify the training needs of physicians who were going to similar locations.  Out of these discussions, a formal curriculum was recommended and fellowship programs in International Emergency Medicine began to spring up around the country.

I was fortunate enough to have been one of these International Emergency Medicine fellows from 2002 to 2004.  Our program included training in public health, clinical shifts at our academic institution, and extensive field work overseas.  It was a great experience and opened the door to a thousand opportunities for me that completely altered the trajectory of my career.

In 2004, towards the end of my fellowship, we published a review article in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine that reported on the International Emergency Medicine fellowships offered around the country to EM trained residents. You can read that article here . When the article was published, there were eight programs available. I find 23 on the website of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine now.

Of course, there are detractors. When I told people I was going to extend my training for two years to do a fellowship in International Emergency Medicine, a number of my colleagues questioned whether this would be a good investment of time. Why not just sign up with an international organization and go?  Why lose two years being a fellow when you could be overseas gaining experience, or working in an emergency department somewhere paying off school loans?

I wasn't sure how to answer these questions when I decided to do the fellowship.  At the time, I just thought it was the right thing for me and I was really excited about the opportunity.

In retrospect, it has turned out to have been a pivotal moment in my career and an excellent investment of time. The fellowship in International Emergency Medicine  exposed me to leaders in international medicine. It trained me in public health. It offered me incredible opportunities to perform field work in remote locations all over the globe and it taught me how to think like an academic physician-- how to research, how to teach, how to write.

So the question is, if you're an Emergency Medicine doc and you're interested in international work, should you do a fellowship in International Emergency Medicine? 

My answer: it depends. 

It depends on a lot of factors including where you see yourself in five years and what your long-term goals are for your career. Not everyone has to do a fellowship to do international work. I know plenty of physicians who are not fellowship trained who do short-term international work and absolutely love it.

However, if international medicine is something you think you would like to do full-time as a career focus, then a fellowship might be the right move for you. The longer you spend overseas in remote areas the more important training in public health becomes. Also, the connections you make through a fellowship can open up job opportunities that you never would have found otherwise.

For those who are EM trained, fellowships in International Emergency Medicine are a good place to start a career in international health.