The open road has a way of calling during the holidays. Maybe you’re a young couple setting off on a cross-country adventure, a family packing up the RV, or a snowbird heading south for warmer weather. Whatever your destination, a little preparation can make the miles ahead safer — and a lot less stressful.
Most people think about the basics before a long drive: fuel, tires, directions, and maybe a playlist or two. But there’s another question worth asking before you pull out of the driveway:
Planning for that possibility doesn’t have to put a damper on your trip. In fact, knowing you’re prepared can help everyone enjoy the journey with greater peace of mind.
Before a long trip, check your vehicle’s emergency kit and replace anything that’s expired, damaged, or missing. A well-stocked kit should include first aid supplies, bottled water, a flashlight with extra batteries, a phone charging cable or portable power bank, blankets, nonperishable snacks, basic tools, jumper cables, reflective warning triangles or flares, and any essential medications your family may need.
And don’t stop at packing your medications. It’s smart to also travel with a current medication list, a list of your medical conditions, and other pertinent medical history. In an emergency, those details can help EMS personnel quickly understand what medications you already take and identify potential conflicts with treatments they may be considering. It might also be helpful to let a trusted companion know where you keep this information, in case you are incapacitated.
If you’re driving through colder climates or remote areas, consider adding extra warm clothing, gloves, an ice scraper, sun protection, and additional food and water. RV drivers may want to carry additional supplies, based on the size of their vehicle and the areas they’ll be visiting.
And don’t forget the vehicle itself. Before departure, check your tires — including the spare — along with fluid levels, brakes, lights, and battery. Addressing a small maintenance issue at home is much easier than dealing with it on the side of a highway.
Related article: How to advocate for yourself during an emergency
GPS makes road trips easier than ever, but you may not be able to rely on it in an emergency.
Before leaving, look over your route and identify if you’ll be heading through long stretches of rural or remote territory. Take note of hospitals and emergency medical facilities along the way, particularly in areas where the next major town may be hours away.
Knowing where emergency care is located can save valuable time if someone becomes seriously ill or injured, especially if you have passengers with chronic health conditions. Consider downloading offline maps for areas where cellular coverage may be unreliable, too.
It’s also smart to share your itinerary with a family member or friend. Let them know your expected route, planned overnight stops, and approximate arrival time.
Smartphones provide another layer of protection when you’re far from home. Location-sharing features can allow trusted family members or friends to see where you are if you need assistance.
Before your trip, make sure everyone knows how to use the location-sharing and emergency features on their phones. Keep devices charged and carry a portable battery pack in case you’re away from the vehicle or lose power.
If you are a MASA member, consider downloading the MASA Global app to your phone (available in the Apple App Store or Google Play store), so you’ll always have quick access to your membership information if there’s an emergency.
Just remember that technology has limits. The farther you are from populated areas, the greater the possibility that cellular service or data connectivity will be limited. That’s why downloading maps, knowing your route, prepping your phone, and sharing your plans before you leave are so important.
Related article: Connections and protections at your fingertips
A flat tire is inconvenient. A serious injury or illness far from home can be much more complicated.
Imagine stopping to explore a scenic overlook or hiking trail and someone suffers a serious fall. The nearest appropriate trauma center could be a considerable distance away, and emergency air transportation may be necessary.
Or imagine that you’re halfway across the country in your RV when a medical emergency results in hospitalization. Your immediate concern is getting the right medical care — but eventually there’s another problem to solve: How does your vehicle or RV get home?
These are exactly the kinds of situations where being a MASA member can make an enormous difference.
Related article: What to do if you need medical care away from home
When a medical emergency happens during a road trip or while traveling abroad, MASA benefits can help you with some of the logistical and financial challenges that follow.
For example, if your MASA plan includes our with our Vehicle & RV Return benefit, we can arrange to return your vehicle or RV home when a qualifying medical emergency results in hospitalization. Instead of your family having to figure out how to retrieve a vehicle that may be hundreds or thousands of miles away, MASA can help take care of the arrangements according to your membership benefits.
Emergency ambulance transportation can also lead to unexpected expenses. Imagine you're on a road trip when you experience a medical emergency that requires an ambulance ride to the nearest hospital — such as breaking your leg while hiking at a roadside attraction. Even with health insurance, you could be left responsible for out-of-pocket costs. MASA's Emergency Ground Ambulance Protection can help with qualifying ambulance transportation expenses, reducing the financial burden so you can focus on getting the care you need.
Or imagine you experience a heart attack. Depending on your condition, a ground ambulance ride to a nearby hospital may be all you need. But what if your condition is more serious and traveling to the nearest hospital isn't the safest option? You may need an air ambulance to reach a facility equipped to provide the care you need. Air ambulance services can be expensive, and your health insurance may provide limited coverage. MASA benefits can help with qualifying emergency air transportation expenses, providing valuable financial protection for emergencies far from home.
Related article: Understanding your MASA protection before you hit the road
No one starts a road trip expecting an emergency. That’s exactly why preparing beforehand matters.
Whether you’re chasing adventure across the country, taking the kids to see family for the holidays, exploring America by RV, or heading south for the winter, preparation gives you one less thing to worry about.
Pack smart, plan ahead, and enjoy the road knowing your MASA benefits are there for you when you need them.