Airport Clinics

By Barbara Kingstone

In the back of every traveller’s mind, is what if I get sick en route. Forgot your pills? Didn’t get the correct shots or vaccination? Feeling ill?

Not too long ago, on my way to the airport, I was having some difficulty with one of my eyes. The flashing of lights, an indication of a potential detached retina, continued even as I hesitantly checked in. Panic did set in as to whether it was wise to travel. Although I’ve circumvented the globe several times, I wasn’t aware that many international airports have medical clinics on the premises. At Pearson International Airport, after discussing my concern, the attendant told me about their services. I made her way down to the basement where, in a spacious room, I discovered a new medical world and was treated like a visiting potentate. After discussing the situation and feeling more reassured by the on-duty nurse, with the caveat that if the condition continued I see someone at my destination, I left and had a great trip. Clinics with superlative services are found in many airports around the world.

1. TORONTO
At Pearson International Airport in Toronto all three terminals have medical clinics. Each is staffed by at least one nurse at all times. Doctors are on-site during traditional business hours and on-call at all times. The 84 firefighters are all trained first responders and are able to administer first aid. Great pluses are that there are 75 defibrillators located throughout the airport facilities. All are monitored by the Operations Control Centre. If a defibrillators cabinet is opened, a call is made to one of the fire halls and a truck is dispatched immediately.

2. HONG KONG
If you’re in Hong Kong’s International Airport, there is an Medical Centre operated by Raffles Medical Group and located at Landside Level 6 room 6T009
The centre opens daily from 7Am to midnight and provides general consultation physiotherapy treatment, x-ray, laboratory services, health screening, pre-employment examination and travel vaccination.

Payment can be by cash or Bupa card. And in case of an emergency, the Medical Centre also provides emergency call-0ut services at an additional charge.

Tel 2261 2626 Fax 2261 0909

3. SYDNEY AUSTRALIA
Sydney Kingsfordsmith Airport in Sydney Australia. Is located on the administration level 3 with public and passenger access. Here they offer many services to travellers, staff and visitors to the airport. Medical consultations, travel vaccinations, prescriptions, women’s health, clot prevention stockings, first aid kits, ultrasound scanning, deep vein thrombosis diagnosis, flu vaccinations and children’s health are some of the procedures and products available.

Hours are from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6PM and on the weekends from 8AM to3 PM.

Phone 61 29667 4355

4. NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam’s Schiphol may have excellent shopping but it also has a superb medical service, available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Many passengers use the service because they may have forgotten their medication or they may need a medical check up in order to obtain a fit to fly certificate. Some become suddenly ill. Vaccinations and malaria prophylactics even ambulances are available. Its core activities consist of emergency medical assistance, medical transportation, medical support offshore, advice for travellers. The company also can perform a vital role in emergency procedures.

It’s a joint venture between KLM Arbo Services B.V. and Schiphol Nederland B.V. which combines the services provided by Medische Dienst Schiphol and KLM Travel Clinic. It’s located in Departure Hall 2 above check-in desk 16.

Non Emergency First Aid has two First Aid stations. Schiphol-Centre departure hall 2 above check-in desk 16 and Schiphol-East building 133. Hours are 7.30AM to 4.30PM
Tel Centre 020 649 2566 Telephone East 020 649 1403

Emergency First Aid (Ambulance service). For life threatening situations the airport ambulance service is 7/24. Tel 020 601 2222

Rates for general practitioner is Euro 23.20 46,40. Twenty minute consultation during the day is Euro 46,40. Evenings and weekends Euro 92,80,
92,80

5. CHICAGO
Chicago’s O’Hare Airport’s clinic is run by the University of Illinois Chicago Medical Centre. Located in Terminal 2, the expansive clinic has approximately 5 medical personnel on staff at all times. They are open from Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM and on weekends and holidays from 9 AM to 5 PM

Tel 773 894 5100
Fax 773 894 5107

6. GERMANY
Emergency and pharmacy facilities are available at the Asklepios Clinics at Airport Munich, Airport Frankfurt, Airport Berlin, Airport Dresden and Airport Hanover.

The company med call offers supervised, air ambulances with speedy, gentle transports for seriously ill patients. At the clinics the facilities have physicians at all airports. With treatment that includes diabetology, geriatrics, gynecology/obstetrics, . For heat surgery there is a specialized team of doctors Frankfurt’s Airport has twenty four hour emergency medical facility
Hotline office is Tel 49 180 111 666

7. LONDON
In the event of a health incident at Heathrow, there is an ambulance crew permanently on standby, but ambulatory patients can go to the Passenger Treatment Facility located in the Queen’s Building between terminals 1 and 2 and is staffed with fully qualified nurses. The centre, unique to Heathrow, also has a nebuliser equipment which can be used to treat those suffering from an asthma attack.

Each terminal has an ambu box which contains resuscitation equipment for use by a doctor. Also basic first aid equipment. Heathrow Airport is also the first UK airport to install life saving heart defibrillator machines which can be used by a trained staff re revive someone with cardiac arrest.

Twenty eight machines have been installed at Heathrow’s Terminal 4, both insides and outside the terminal. About 80 British Airway staff have been trained to use defibrillators with plans to train 60 others. Defibrillators will be installed in other terminals in the new future.

The programme is funded by BAA but run by the London Ambulance Service. And the government target to respond to 90% of all life-threatening emergencies within 8 minutes. There is an on-going programme and presently over 250 trained first aiders are at the airport.

8. SINGAPORE
At Changi airport, both paramedics and medical professional are available. At terminal 1 inside the Departure/Transit Lounge, there is a clinic which is operated from 8am to 2am daily.

Terminal 2’s E Gate is open from 8am to 2am also and there’s a 24 hour medical centre located in the basement outside the transit area.

Raffles Medical Group (Basement 6543 1118.
Medial emergency hotline 65432223

9. JAPAN
Tokyo’s Narita Airport has a clinic in Terminal 1 where there is an orthopedist available on Saturday, Sunday and night hours. Not all doctors speak English but they all understand medical phrases.

The Nippon Medical University Airport Clinic in Terminal 2 has physicians and orthopedists. Every Thursday there is an eye doctor on site.

10. SWITZLERLAND
Zurich Airport with over 70,000 people passing through daily, has several medical doctors and dentists working during normal office hours. Information and appointments can be arranged through the Airport Service office. Emergency services, of course, are available around the clock.
WWW.Zurich-airport.com

11. MARYLAND
The Baltimore Washington International Airport has defibulators throughout the airport and operate their own airport fire and rescue service.

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.
Since travel journalists are on the go more than the usual tourist, we become aware of solutions sooner than most. On a recent trip to Kenya and Tanzania, a fellow writer, the hardy adventurous type, had a great asset for travellers ,a ‘just in case’ kit.

Travel Safe, Travel Smart is a 17 x19 cm lightweight zippered and waterproof case that can fit into a small space in your luggage. This medical kit (accompanied by an informative booklet), is ideal for the savvy traveller, especially for those going to developing countries with high incidence of tropical and infectious diseases.

Inside are Nitrile gloves, packets of extra strength Tylenol, Motrin for muscle inflammation, Alamag Plus for upset stomachs, Diamode for diarrhea. There are treatments for wounds: Povidone Iodine and Tincture of Benzoin, bandages and Ceralyte Oral Electrolyte Mix which helps prevent dehydration. Also insect repellent, a non- mercury thermometer, bandage scissors and, for more serious situations, sutures and a syringe for countries where safe sterile supplies may not be available.

Adventure Medical Kits also have a packet size water proof dental medic, a first aid kit for teeth with temporary filling mixture to “alleviate pain and protect the tooth from further damage”.

Travel Save, Travel Smart…Adventure Medical Kits is available by calling 800 324 3517 or writing P.O Box 43309 Oakland, CA 94624