Safe Travels
Black Physician Creates Health Guide for Managing Sickness when Traveling By Parker Diakite
A
s more people begin to travel again, Atlantabased physician, Dr. Yvette McQueen, wants to make sure you are prepared. She just released Travel 911: A Health Guide For Adventurers. While the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we travel and highlighted how easy diseases can spread, Dr. McQueen is spreading awareness about other sicknesses and medical concerns travelers are susceptible to when traveling. “I was inspired to write the book prior to the pandemic and finished it during the lockdown,” she tells Travel Noire. “I have traveled with several groups, including a group of physicians and sometimes just with a group of people and what I found is that someone always gets sick unexpectedly.” Dr. McQueen says she wants travelers to enjoy their adventures and be prepared for any medical emergency as a nonmedical person. “You have planned and paid for your [travel] experience, but the one thing you probably didn’t plan for is sickness and emergencies,” said Dr. McQueen. “The book provides the reader with the preparation and simple solutions for medical and health problems while traveling.” Dr. McQueen is an emergency medical physician, who has worked in the U.S. and Caribbean. She has traveled to more than 40 different countries and organizes medical missions, hospital training, and teaching in places such as Rwanda and Tanzania. Her book guides readers through handling common medical concerns. Topics range from traveler’s diarrhea to skin issues. You will be introduced to and advised on a wide range of possible, unfortunate occurrences that could affect not only how pleasant your trip is, but also how
well you recover from unexpected medical events. “This health guide gives valuable information about items to pack, wellness while traveling, health situations to anticipate, common travel-related medical problems, and how to recognize and handle a medical emergency as a nonmedical person,” a statement on the website reads. “A bonus chapter of quick basic first aid. Carry it with you on all your travels and be ready cDr. Yvette McQueen for the unexpected.” In addition to a book, Dr. McQueen has made it easier to pack the essentials. She has also created a mini travel and hygiene pack for the on-the-go traveler. The kit comes with three-layer disposable masks; antibacterial wipes); a compressed cotton towel, mini toothbrushes with toothpaste inserts; body wash squeeze pods; deodorant wipes, and more. Both items are small for you to keep handy in your carry-on. You can purchase the health guide and Dr. McQueen’s other items here. https://travelnoire.com/black-doctor-health-guidetraveling Image credits: greaterdiversity.com
62 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Sept 2021
