Gearing Up

Don’t forget to win the lottery too! and do plenty of weightlifting to carry all this.

Just kidding Sherly, thanks!

I know…I know… actually I carry very little myself but just in case
I thought I’d throw this out there as it comes up in conversations

Cheers

Don’t forget that a good surge supressor goes a long way. One power surge can wipe out in the best case scenerio just your chargers, in the worst case it can short out your battery and computer. I learned this the hard way. If you have a sherpa carrying a portable ups would be ideal.

Good Point Keith, one doesnt want all that hard work going PFfftttt! in a sudden fit. That is something that happens to us all the time in St Domingo.

But I wanted to add one little note about packing gear, because I too tend to go light and prefer it that way. I realize that if you are expected to transmit breaking news quickly you are going to be saddled with a sat phone and all the rest, but for those of you who are not parachuting into a conflict, then you have the option of travelling lighter. And if you dont have to wear Kevlar etc, then you have succeeded in cutting down on the weight of this formidable list already by about half. But one thing I have found is that proper research on the country where you are heading can save you alot of trouble packing. And of course, LS is here to help you acquire such info. For example, while any personal prescription medicine should certainly be carried along and kept in your carryon bag along with your precious cameras, you can get alot of other prescription medicines for very cheap in many countries. If you are worried about a stomach bug, which if severe enough can certainly put you out of commission, know that Cipro and Flagyl (and only experience can tell you which is needed when) are available without prescription in India, or St Domingo and a host of other countries where stomach bugs and such infections are common. There are also natural remedies, if you are lucky enough to find them. My point is that you dont absolutely have to buy such medicines before you leave (unless you expect to go up the Amazon), and you will save money by not doing so. Cipro in the West is very expensive: a 10 day dose costs about $120 here in NYC but maybe 10 dollars in Delhi. btw, Know your proper dosages! You shouldnt screw around with antibiotics or you will end up in worse shape than you were. And Imodium, though I know many people use it, is not generally a good idea, at least not if you try to take it for a long period. Any chronic diarrhea should not be staunched with imodium: you are basically shutting all that poison up inside of yourself, whereas the diarrhea is the body’s attempt to get rid of the invader. You want to help that process along without running the risk of dehydration (which can happen surprisingly rapidly in the tropics). So if you are heading out to some lonely outpost and dont expect to be near a pharmacy for a long time, then it is a good idea to take Cipro with you. Even if the bug is something that Cipro cannot kill (and the list now is long), it will at least help you to check its attack for a while until you can get back to a doctor. If you are in a Latin American country and feel the shits coming on, I recommend that you head to a grocery store or local outdoor market and look for an herb called “sen.” Tea made from this leaf (te de sen) will help with most stomach parasites. It not only works as a purgative, but also seems to do something to the stomach’s chemical environment making it temporarily unattractive to the bug. And the tea tastes pretty good too. a couple of days on that stuff and you will be right as rain.

Clothing too is an item you can skimp on very often. If I am going where I dont need alot of clothes or can pick them up cheaply on the spot, I dont pack alot of clothing. it just takes up space. A good pair of walking shoes, and maybe flip flops or light sandals to relax. Sporting/camping stores now sell underwear and even sox made out of ultralight breathable cotton that you can wash in the sink and dry in less than 15 minutes!

Finally, the earplugs are a good recommendation. did you know that proximity to the sound of a pistol shot fired inside a room can permanently damage your ears? Rifle fire and anything of larger calibre is guaranteed to make you deaf over time. Even wax or a bit of chewing gum as a last resort is better than deafness.

Oh, and those of you who still shoot black and white film on the road, I recommend you carry with you the all purpose Alan Chin patented travelling lab!

PDN is working on a Tips issue for August, and could use your help. We’re under the gun on this, and looking for some more great tips for your fellow photojournalists by the end of this week. We’re eager to get some smart, ingenious, labor-saving ideas for anything from gear selection, to travel tips, to business issues, to how-tos… you get the idea. We’re particularly interested in hearing any additions you might have to the list of essential gear for war zones which Sheryl Mendez posted here but we’re getting all kinds of tips submitted by photographers, photo agents, labs, commercial shoot producers, assistants, equipment rental houses, you name it, and we’re happy to have more.

If you’ve got something that would make the life of the professional photographer a little easier, please send it to Holly Hughes at PDN, she’s at hhughes@pdnonline.com.

Thanks!

Jon

Good advice. Your right about the medicines which you can get cheaper overseas

Cheers,
sheryl

Plastic Bag and rubber bands. You never know when the storm is coming at you ( rain or sand).As usual I learned the hard way. The sealing on D70,20D or similar are weaker than on the “Big” models.
For Hot weather:
T-shirts and socks made of Coolmax fabric are Very fresh and confortable. Far cooler than cotton.
Stay hydrated. Camelbak is a great option to drink on the go.
You can get these items at any bike shop or www.performancebike.com

What kind of shoes are you using? YES shoes!. I have tried many but still …………I have no find something confortable to walk all day.

Thank you Sheryl for all your tips and advice . Very useful

OK, I’ve been trying to limit myself to three posts a day, but I can’t resist gear talk.

headlamp (much better than flashlights), bivy sack, heavy survival blanket/tarp (the green/silver kind) — and my personal favorite — aqua socks, the tight rubberized river shoes. If you have to carry your gear across a river, they can really help against icy water and sharp rocks. Beyond ziplocks, waterproof bags are good too — they make a range of sizes for kayakers, heavy plastic with a roll-top seal, totally waterproof, so if you spill, or get submerged, your film/cameras, etc. will survive.

“Nightvision” microlights are good too (www.inovalight.com). Those little squeeze flashlights with red/green/blue light. Nice for poking around a tent or room while others are sleeping or for “light discipline” situations, when white light is a no-no. I’d avoid the red ones though, as they can look a little bit like laser-assist beams.

and for lipbalm/chapstick, get the kind with sunblock mixed in, the skin on the lips burns and cracks the easiest.

Alex — for boots, Magnum, Hi-Tech, and Bates (I’m sure others) make a hybrid sneaker-boot, with a side zipper, and air cushion soles — they’re not so durable, and usually only last me one or two trips, but they are very good for walking in all kinds of terrain, and zip on and off quickly, which is extra useful in asia and middle east for mosques, temples, and homes. Also for the feet — sock liners, thin moisture wicking socks, that go under your main socks — they will actually keep your feet cooler and drier, and cut down on blisters.

I would also include a small roll of electrical tape. Riggers tape (Duct tape) is even more useful but usually only comes on larger rolls.
Speaking of rolls, don’t forget the TP. Baby wipes are pretty popular.
Try to get a hold of the large O.D. bandage that comes in the military issue 1stAid kits. They are great for splints(which is what they are designed for), pressure bandage, or as a bandanna.
Also, if you’re headed to Afghanistan, bring a lot of pens. The kids there are always asking for them.
As far as boots, I recomend Matterhorn or Danner. Danner doesn’t fit me well but have a great reputation. These are military type boots and fairly heavy but provide great support and protection in rough terrain. TheDesert Storm issue Desert Boots were awesome and didn’t weight you down. DON’T FORGET GOOD INSOLES.
Hope these additions help. Next time I’ll tell you how to squeeze everything into a single seabag.

Brian

Ok, now that y’all are bringing out your favorite tricks, it got me thinking. From a low-tech, mostly urban perspective, I would recommend a couple things. If the mountains you are walking up are not snowbound Afghani jaw droppers, and you spend most of your time walking city streets, then I would recommend instead of boots that you look at a simple pair of Rockport World Tour Classic MWT11 Walking Shoes. I bought a pair of these years ago and they have carried me to India, Brazil, and all over the island of St Domingo, up (small) mountains, over streams, through municipal dumps, through the debris of the World Trade Towers, and I still wear them after almost 10 years, though I admit they look pretty funky now. The soles/heels held up well, the leather surface too. And they are cheap and comfortable. They are good for light trekking (where you dont really need a boot for ankle support) and for wearing out to a nice restaurant.

Pants: I like pockets, particularly with zippers. Cargo pants are best, but my favorite are a type made by Ex Officio for hikers and climbers. Extremely lightweight material that is wash and Dryable in about 30 minutes. There is one style that comes with a zippered pocket down by the ankle. Now since I often find myself in funky nabes with thieves and riff raff, I like to hide valuables in this pocket, where no one ever thinks to look: it is particularly good protection against pickpockets. I dont like to wear money belts in hot places, so this works for me.

Finally, for those of you still shooting film, I recommend that you carry your film with you in those nice big ziploc bags. I tape all the canisters, seven across, together and stack them I think four or five rows to a bag. This makes a nice flat package and airport security can quickly access it and examine it, if you want to avoid the X-ray machine.

Good tape is essential, but instead of duct tape, which is a bit gluey, I prefer to use gaffer’s tape, a standard item for most commercial photographers. It is a strong but manageable adhesive, and it comes in different widths and quantities.

Pens are an excellent idea. You know, I think that this is a fair indicator of the level of development of a country. Ten years ago when I first went to St Domingo the kids always used to beg for pens, but now they dont, and modernization has proceeded at a rapid pace. The street kids are there still, mostly shoe shine boys, but I guess pens just dont do it for them anymore.

Gaff tape- wrap it around a pencil in your bag to avoid the bulk.

Boots- you cant beat blundstones as long as you are not doing major hiking.

garbage bags- better than ziplocks, with a twist and a tie your gear is waterproof/dustproof, not so with a ziplock, and way cheaper, lighter and smaller than WP gear bags.

Amen to the headlamp.

shower sandals are key.

and a small hip flask with your favorite scotch isn’’t a bad idea either.

Check this out, this man survived for over 30 years in the jungle
http://www.primitiveways.com/jungle_30_years.html

Advice from Joseph Galloway – who covered Vietnam to Gulf War
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1838920

For gear:

www.rei.com
www.rei-outlet.com
www.sierratradingpost.com
www.campmor.com
www.basegear.com
www.backcountrygear.com
www.bestglide.com
http://www.peaktopeak.net/stores.html (This has links to numerous sources for gear)

Something I haven’’t seen mentioned yet even though The Hitchhiker’’s Guide to the Galaxy mentions it in the first sentence: a towel. Go one better and get one of the camp towels found in any hiking/camping store. They’’re super absorbant and ring 90% dry according to the ads. Not sure I agree but they dry quickly regardless. Many uses including a good protective lens wrap when dry. Coming to join some of you guys on my first trip to Iraq next week (starting off in Mosul after making my way through CPIC Bagdad) so this little packing guide should prove useful. Good Travels, JLee

Heya J — good point — better yet than a towel or camp towel is a dhoti/lungi/sarong/dishdasha, or whatever it happens to be called in the country you’re in…all purpose towel, headwrap, shawl, skirt, etc…It’ll pack smaller, and dry faster than a camp towel, and whatever unit you imbed with will appreciate seeing you wandering around base in a dress. travel safe my man.

For tape, the gaffers/grip tape is def better than electrical or duct, and you can get small rolls — one inch, etc. Try art supply, hardwear, or 99 cent stores.

For kids, balloons are good too — instant toys, no bulk/weight, and really, we all have to avoid feeding the “hey mister, one schoolpen, one chocolate” thing.

www.altrec.com is another good gear gear spot.

on the Panasonic Toughbook, I’ve been using one for a while, and it actually is really “tough”, but silly expensive. Also, it only has one USB port, so remember to get a USB hub. The touchscreen is also really nice, especially for selecting areas in photoshop.
Rather than spending $4000 on a ruggedized computer, though, another option is to get a $1000 computer, and a $100 armored case.

on armor, last bit:

you absolutely should not be traveling in any unstable area without one of these:

http://www.gadgetmadness.com/archives/20050418-armored_banana_carrying_case_the_bananabox.php

Kids always like bubbles too. Something magical about them. Takes up little room, and you can bathe with it in a pinch.

I second Gaffer’s tape. Other than wrangling cords, I’ve made impromtu clamps with the stuff, fashioned a very nice belt, blocked light from a window (so I could sleep), and currently use it to keep my wallet together. Also good for locking lens AF swithes in place. No sticky residue is the clincher.

I thought for sure that the banana box was gonna be some sort of armor plated speedo.

last one, I swear:

$5 plastic compass, doesn’t have to be very accurate, but when you hit a new crashspot, you can quick check for south facing windows for your BGAN.

Hey! Where do you get those banana boxes? That’s cool… do they have ’em in desert camo?

Twist ties – handy for so many things.

Plastic shopping bags – mainly water proofing uses.

Cheap plastic sunglasses – you’ll understand when someone punches your wire Raybans into your face.

Multi-tool – i prefer the ones you get for $5 in BKK cos I always lose leathermans.

Ok – so maybe i don’t look cool when i travel, but damn I am comfortable.

Call up THE GUY THAT’S BEEN THERE and ask him out for a drink. Listen to what he has to say. Jungle vets will quite often talk about shitting blood fevers. Desert survivors will talk about sand, sand everywhere. Ruins your equipment, that sand.  That’s the gist.



Before you leave- absolutely get your teeth fixed.  Having a simple tooth infection rot your head in a month is not pretty. Saw it happen to a guy in Columbia. (Hint- needlenose pliers are handy for past late tooth extraction)

Antibiotic creams for scrapes are important too. If it can get the tissue eating mad fungus that burns like wildfire and smells like mad  unhappy, it will.



About the shoe issue- This comes after seeing a man’s leg blown off by a land mine in Iraq and talking shop to others- you don’t want to wear boots that go over your ankle if you are going into landmine country ( afghanistan, iraq, africa) Any shoe like a paratrooper boot will take your leg off up to the hip joint if a landmine goes off. Anything more sneaker like (or keds) will do much less damage. Keep that in mind.



 I traveled through some jungle country in nothing but swat sandals on my feet and was fine for it. And no foot rot.

If you think a steel toe boot will protect you from a tank tread, thin again. You can make a night light ( not as harsh as a white light) by using filter book (given out samples in photosupply stores) sheets of plastic.



Which also comes in handy if you want to paint with light.



Super glue gets small scrapes and nicks on your skin fixed really well.

A p-38 can opener army type is very handy for lots of things.  There are web shrines to this nifty gadget. They won’t let you take it on the plane with you, put it into checked luggage.



 If you wear body armor, steal, beg, or lift off a dead guy extra armor plates and attach where you see fit (front or back plate pocket, over your existing plate) for when you’re riding in a vehicle. This will save your ass when the bomb or shrap goes flying. Worked for me.

I knew snipers from both sides that shot anything on two legs with the word "press" or an orange jacket on it. They actually collected them. So look like a grunt if your ego allows it.

Just a quick note on computer/transmission backup. Using the phojo editing and ftp software and any number of pdas gives you the ability to have a backup system that works with bgan/thuraya and fits in a domke pouch.

I am new to lightstalkers but found this topic interesting & humourous. I never go anywear without Aspirin or something stronger to fix a headache…creativity is hard if your head is throbing.. & aftershave as everyone loves you if you smell nice.

for headlamp lovers:



http://www.rei.com/online/store/LearnShareDetailArticlesList?categoryId=Camping&url=rei/learn/camp/headlamps.jsp?cm_ven=email&cm_cat=gm&cm_pla=na&cm_ite=07_08_gm

i was advised by a female correspondent once to pack tampons into your first aid kit.

Shoes:

Blundstones. I’m sure the Autralians know these suckers. They’re the best – no laces, just two loops to slipthe boots on. Made of durable lether, ankle high, you can even wear ‘em with shorts and still look good. I’ve tramped through the jungle in these, wore them in the desert and when i’m back home I use them as my winter boots shovelling the sidewalk. Water resistant and cool looking too!

Although, when I was in Ukraine and Russia, they were all horrified at my “Peasent Boots” – but I was certainly comfy. Those are my recommendation. I have no idea where to get them other than the Autralian Boot Co., downtown Toronto. And I’m sure Australia.

Don.

Bugs, dammit:

I am no boy scout, and Im not talking here about camping, so much as working in towns and villages in a jungley place: get your shots!! Larium too.

Be triple careful about your water sources, dont brush with tap water even if you are staying in an alright hotel. Dont tilt your face twoards the shower head when you shower. Carry industrial strength purification tablets and use them even in the bottled water you buy wherever. A drop or two of clorox in the water will work, You can carry it in a little bottle. Bring 100% or 75% DEET against the bugs (lots), and lots of bug repellant candles or that green coil you can light, and MOSQUITO NETTING. A light weight nylon hammock can be good if the bed (if there is a bed) is infested – try to get one that is closely woven. Spray that sucker daily with bug repellant (that way youll just die of cancer from the DEET, not from cerebral malaria.)

Take foam earplugs (so bugs cant crawl in that cavity at night – which just leaves your nose, mouth, penis and anus, no joke.) I sometime sleep in the jungle with a bandana over my mouth, cause when you start snoring those little critters that havent even been classified by entomologists will jump straight down your throat and make a life- long home in your guts. ( A cameraman I know had a snail crawl into his penis while showering, causing his right arm to be paralyzed for a year.) Serious biz.

I believe in chemical support: take sleeping pils or valium. Half of one of those babies can be a godsend when the mosquitos are dive-bombing your netting to distraction. Ziplock bags to keep the bugs out of your camera electronics (on 107th street in NYC I took apart a motor-drive once that was broken, only to find a good-sized cockroach in it!)

in a first aid-kit: topical antibiotic, coagulant painkiller (ie, not aspirin), cortizone cream, oral antibiotic (cipro), benadryl, Tweezers, a lighter. If you can, ask someone at night. to check you all over for ticks, and mites. Burn the little bastards right out of you.

Good point on the shower sandals. Also, bring your own soap, ph balanced! You dont want me to describe the infections Ive got, and didnt even have any fun in the process.

If you get sick from a parasite, Flagel often works, but there are many that need special treatment. You are often much better getting your checkup in the same country as you got the parasite- at least if you live in a non-jungley country – as there is a lack of knowledge about tropical disease and very little diagnostic experience in, for example, NYC.

And thats just scratching the surface.

cheers, stephen

Could those of you with a lot of digital experience speak to the back-up devices that can be used while shooting, other than a laptop. Any other suggestions about backing up lots of work (I shoot on raw whenever possible) while in the field would be appreciated.

Thanks, Stephen

Another thing that is good: you can find little packets of powdered drink that like gatorade has a lot of electrolytes. In parts of latin america its called sal de frutas and a supermarket will have it, but you can also find it in camping stores I believe. If you have diarheea, this stuff is great for replacing all the minerals you lose that way, also true if youre vomiting. (never thought id be plugging gatorade, but there it is.)

stephen

Hey Stephen 



Please do not be offended as i have consumed a few beers but  PH balanced soap…..you are joking….& all those other gizmos

You sound like a walking drug store $….



Stay safe in the land of the white powder



Mark 

Actually I have to come to Stephen’s defense here: if you live in the tropics (or subtropics) you absolutely have to have some kind of soap that will combat all the various skin ailments that are an inevitable consequence of the heat humidity and bacteria.  I have never seen that particular soap he mentions in St domingo, but instead we all use a feminine hygiene product, the name of which escapes me at the moment but is very common in Latin America-  It really does the trick. You may well laugh, but it is way better than suffering from crotch rot and all the other creepy weird skin infections you are liable to get.  And it has a nice refreshing tingle to it.



I already posted above re: antibiotics, but in case any one is ever truly brought low by a parasite, again Stephen is right, Flagyl may not  be the solution, and that is why self-medication is sometimes risky.  If you cannot get help in the host country, there is in fact a guy over on Fifth Avenue, we call him the Jungle Doctor, whose speciality is tropical diseases.  He has arrows adorning his wall which supposedly were shot at either Stanley or Livingstone, I forget which.  I dont have his contact info with me right now, but I will track it down and post it here.  he is expensive but good.  He cured me once of a very nasty parasite I imbibed when i was baptized by the Liboristas in the mountains of San Juan de la Maguana.  It took two different types of medicine to do the job.  Flagyl was not one of them, and neither was cipro.  However, I highly recommend to anyone travelling in Latin America that they drink Te de Sen when they have stomach problems, as this natural remedy will fix you up for the majority of parasites you are likely to encounter.





I have thankfully never had a bug crawl up my pene, but it is true that there are a host of such bugs in the water and also hiding in thatched rooves, which, even if they dont go crawling up your nethers they can leave a nasty bite and infect you with nasty diseases while you are sleeping.  The earplugs are a good idea.

Jon



Are you talking about Dr. Kevin Cahill?  He fixed me up with a bout of giardia and god knows what from a trip to the Northwest Frontier of Pakistan.

Dr. Kevin Cahill -

850 5th Ave

New York, New York 10021

 Dr. Kevin Cahill  began his career in tropical medicine in the slums of Calcutta. Later he worked as a doctor in refugee camps in Somalia and the Sudan and lived with diseases and death on a massive scale. He has been caught behind lines in armed conflicts, and seen senseless slaughter in Beirut and Managua, and all the scarred landscape of modern Africa.

One of the first doctors to predict the famine in Somalia, Dr. Cahill is the founder of the Center for International Health and Co-operation (CIHC) in consultation with United Nations agencies. He is also the creator of International Diploma Course in Humanitarian Assistance (IDCHA), an intensive multidisciplinary training program for professionals and volunteers who work in the field of humanitarian assistance. The course provides both practical skills and insight into the complex needs of refugees, victims of natural disaster and people displaced because of political conflict. 

Dr. Cahill also is the director of the Tropical Disease Center, Lenox Hill Hospital.



Sheryl

that is the guy!  Kevin Cahill, aka the jungle doctor.  Everyone take note.  In fact I am going to add it to our resources list (if you havent already Sheryl: it is like you read my mind!)  HIghly recommended, but a bit pricey.  Very interesting guy to meet by the way, Always interested in talking to photographers.



Giardia is a bitch.  I had it in India for three months.  I looked like Gandhi when I got back.  But basic flagyl will take care of Giardia, which by the way can be caught by drinking out of  America’s babbling brooks too.



And the feminine hygiene product I recommended above is called Lemisol.  It is available here in the states so you can pick up a bottle if you are headed to the tropics, but it is generally available in So. America too.

Ah,

Back to water purification- I got one of these guys, great to keep in your bag:

http://www.msrcorp.com/filters/miox.asp

Hi to latest commentors



I accept no one wants any of the above mentioned ailments…I had Giardia in Pakistan & was farting sulphur but my point was PH 

balanced soap is normally advised to people with sensitive skin….if you want to keep of the bugs a really good tip is to cover all

exposed areas with Vasoline(Petrolium jelly) it acts as a barrier & keeps the skin in good condition.

If your really hard core you can use neat gasoline to clean the skin (British 8th Army did this in North Africa during WW2 to conserve

water)

On a serious note: Under no circumstances take any chances with Malaria….I contracted Malaria in Uganda & was lucky…



Mark

Jon, thanks for the info on the jungle docter, and the stuff to keep the mushrooms, crabbie-wabbies, and rot at bay… stephen

Not at all, though thanks are due to Sheryl too (who always seems to have the details right at her fingertips!).  You may find that the ph balanced soap you use is better than the Lemisol, at least insofar as the former is not full of chemicals (Lemisol warns you not to use the stuff on children, though they also provide a "child-safe" version), but the Lemisol does work and is generally available.



btw, I sympathize with you on your recent run-in with the atracadores in Venezuela.  We are having the same problem now in st Domingo, which used to be a very safe place to travel around in.  The attacks, so far as I know, have not yet graduated to the better Taxi companies ( the ones you call so you have the car number), but the gypsy cabs, what we call "conchos", are sometimes just a trap for the unsuspecting rider.  You get in, they grab your head and force it down between your knees, search all your pockets, and then unceremoniously dump you in the street — while the car keeps moving!  Fun.

I am new to this site, but the talk of pens made me want to put in a plug for bringing pencils. Lots. They do not suddenly run out. They do not break and get all over your stuff or ruin your one good for "interviewing diplomats" shirt. They work upside down.. And bring some crayons. Use them to mark stuff more permanently or break them in half for gifts for lots of kids.  Scribble scribble…

Don’t forget to check for what vaccinations you may need when heading out



http://www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinat.htm



http://www.astmh.org/press/index.cfm



http://www.istm.org/



http://www.who.int/en/



Travelers’ Health Automated Information Line

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/travel_clinics.htm#yf

FAX: 888-232-3299 Toll Free

PHONE: 877-FYI-TRIP Toll Free



List of Doctors/Hospitals Abroad by country :  http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1195.html



Info on help abroad for the following:  Financial Assistance, Arrest/Incarceration, Medical Emergencies, Death of US Citizens Abroad

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1205.html

Several private organizations will provide medical information and insurance for overseas travelers. Most charge a fee for this service. The following is provided FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and in no way constitutes an endorsement.

AIR AMBULANCE / MED-EVAC

U.S.-based Companies

ABLE JET

Fort Pierce, FL

800-225-3538

ACADIAN AMBULANCE & AIR MED SERVICE, INC.

Lafayette, LA

800-259-3333

ADVANCED AIR AMBULANCE

Miami, FL

800-633-3590 / 305-232-7700

AAA – AIR AMBULANCE AMERICA

Austin, TX

800-222-3564 / 512-479-8000

AIRMD AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES

Clearwater, FL

800-282-6878 / 1-727-530-7972

AIR AMBULANCE NETWORK

Sarasota, FL

800-327-1966

AIR AMBULANCE PROFESSIONALS

Fort Lauderdale, FL

800-752-4195 / 954-491-0555

AirEvac

Phoenix, AZ

800-421-6111

AIR MEDIC – AIR AMBULANCE OF AMERICA

Washington, PA

800-245-9987

AIRescue INTERNATIONAL

Van Nuys, CA

800-922-4911 / 818-994-0911

AIR RESPONSE

Orlando, FL

800-631-6565 / 303-858-9967

AIR STAR INTERNATIONAL

Thermal, CA

877-570-0911 / 800-991-2869

e-mail: AirStar1@aol.com

AMERICAN CARE, INC.

San Diego, CA

800-941-2582 / 619-486-8844

AMERICAN JET AIR MEDICAL

Houston, TX

888-I-FLY-AJI / 713-641-9700

CRITICAL AIR MEDICINE

San Diego, CA

800-247-8326 / 619-571-0482

CRITICAL CARE MEDFLIGHT

Lawrenceville, GA

800-426-6557

GLOBAL CARE / MEDPASS

Alpharetta, GA

800-860-1111

INFLIGHT MEDICAL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL INC.

Naples, FL

800-432-4177 / 941-594-0800

INTERNATIONAL SOS ASSISTANCE

Philadelphia, PA

800-523-8930 / 215-244-1500

Also provides travel insurance services.

LifeFlight New Orleans

New Orleans, LA

800-942-0455 / 504-243-9800

e-mail: Info@NewOrleansJets.com

LIFE GUARD INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Las Vegas, NV

866-SKY-LIFE (866-759-5433)

e-mail: lifeguardinternational@msn.com

MedAire

Tempe, AZ

480-333-3700

e-mail: info@medaire.com

MED ESCORT INTERNATIONAL INC.

Allentown, PA

800-255-7182 / 610-791-3111

MEDEX ASSISTANCE CORPORATION

Baltimore, MD

888-MEDEX-00 / 800-537-2029

Also provides travel insurance services.

MEDJET ASSISTANCE

Birmingham, AL

1-800-963-3538

MEDJET INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Birmingham, AL

800-356-2161 / 205-592-4460

MEDWAY AIR AMBULANCE

Lawrenceville, GA

800-233-0655

MERCY MEDICAL AIRLIFT

Manassas, VA

800-296-1217

(Service area: Caribbean and part of Canada only. If necessary, will meet commercial incoming patients at JFK, Miami and other airports.)

NATIONAL AIR AMBULANCE

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

800-327-3710 / 305-525-5538

SMARTRAVEL

Alexandria, VA

800-730-3170 / 703-379-8645

Provides a range of travel medicine services.

TRAVEL CARE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Eagle River, WI

800-524-7633 / 715-479-8881

TRAVELERS EMERGENCY NETWORK

Tierra Verde, FL

800-ASK-4-TEN

e-mail: ten@intrex.net

Foreign-based Companies

AEA INTERNATIONAL

Singapore

U.S. Phone: 800-468-5232

Service worldwide, also provides travel insurance services

AUSTRIAN AIR AMBULANCE

Vienna, Austria

43-1-40-144

EURO-FLITE LTD.

Helsinki International Airport

Vantaa, Finland

358-9-870-2544

EUROPASSISTANCE

Johannesburg, South Africa

27-11-315-3999

GERMAN AIR RESCUE (DRF)

Filderstadt, Germany

49-0711-7007-0

e-mail: alarmzentrale@drf.de

MEDIC’AIR

Paris, France

331-41-72-14-14

LUXEMBOURG AIR RESCUE

Luxembourg

352-420-440-1

e-mail: office@air-rescue.lu

TYROL AIR AMBULANCE

Innsbruck, Austria

43-512-22422

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANIES

U.S.-based Companies

ACCESS AMERICA, INC.

Richmond, VA

866-807-3982

AIGAssist

American International Group, Inc.

New York, NY

800-382-6986

ASA, INC.

International Health Insurance

Phoenix, AZ

888-ASA-8288

AXA ASSISTANCE

Bethesda, MD

301-214-8200

CLEMENTS INTERNATIONAL

Washington, DC

800-872-0067 / 202-872-0060

http://www.clements.com

e-mail: info@clements.com

CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION

San Diego, CA

888-873-5484

http://www.csatravelprotection.com

GATEWAY

Seabury & Smith

Washington, DC

800-282-4495 / 202-457-7707

e-mail: gateway.dc@seabury.com

HEALTH CARE GLOBAL

(also known as MEDHELP or WALLACH & COMPANY or HEALTHCARE ABROAD)

Middleburg, VA

800-237-6615 / 540-687-3166

HIGHWAY TO HEALTH

Fairfax, VA

703-322-1515

(Also provides destination-based travel health information for cities worldwide.)

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GROUP (IMG)

Indianapolis, IN

800-628-4664 / 317-655-4500

MultiNational Underwriters, Inc.

Indianapolis, IN

800-605-2282

e-mail: insurance@mnui.com

MUTUAL OF OMAHA

Tele-Trip Company

Omaha, NE

800-228-9792

PETERSEN INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS, INC.

Valencia, CA

800-345-8816

e-mail: piu@piu.org

TRAVELEX

Omaha, NE

800-228-9792

TRAVEL GUARD

Stevens Point, WI

800-826-1300/715-345-0505

TRAVEL BCISURED INTERNATIONAL

E. Hartford, CT

800-243-3174

TRAVEL INSURANCE SERVICES

InterMedical Division

Walnut Creek, CA

800-937-1387/925-932-1387