SOS

Americans love to travel, even post September 11th. While there may be a few more empty seats on overseas flights than there used to be, plenty of us are still heading off to remote parts of the world once reserved for explorers like Darwin, Shackleton, Stanley and Livingston. We are booking passage on ships that sail across remote parts of the Pacific to the Galapagos, climbing aboard the backs of elephants in Thailand and drinking coconuts on the beach in Moorea.

Unfortunately, some of us occasionally get sick or injured in latitudes where medical care leaves a lot to be desired. Now an extra layer of protection--emergency medical evacuation and the ability to speak to a Western physician at any time--is available. International SOS offers medical and personal safety assistance at a level of service that was once the province of large corporate clients.

In case you don't think you need extra insurance, consider that International SOS performs approximately 12,000 evacuations a year. That's over one per hour. They also handle everyday mishaps and misadventures, such as broken teeth, sprained backs and stomach viruses. Other services include travel safety reports, e-mail safety alerts and a password-protected Web site where members can store medical, personal and trip information to be used in case of emergency.

The prices for Global Traveler programs are based on the duration of one's trip, ranging from as little as $55 for a 10-day Medical Membership to $225 for an annual membership. Memberships for couples and families are also available. For people living overseas, Global Traveler offers an individual Expatriate plan for as little as $380 per year. For more information about International SOS, call (800) 523-8662 or visit www.internationalsos.com.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group