our child needs emergency care, and you’re far from home. What do you do? Dr. Joel Steinberg, vice president and director of Medical Affairs at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, puts heading for a pediatric hospital first on the list. A children’s hospital will have the experience and proper equipment to best care for a child’s needs.

“If your child is ill (non-emergency), I would advise calling the child’s pediatrician for advice,” Dr. Steinberg says.

To lessen the risk of emergencies on the road, Dr. Steinberg recommends prior planning. If a child is on medication, parents should make sure they pack enough to last the entire trip. Parents also need to know the child’s correct diagnosis as well as the name and dosage of the child’s medication.

Before traveling outside of the United States, Dr. Steinberg suggests that parents talk with their physicians and county health officials about health warnings and proper immunizations.