This
is not the happiest of subjects, but I suppose it’s an important one. What happens if you die overseas? That’s a
question asked by this
article in the Los Angeles Times, and while at first I thought it rather gloomy and dark, it turns out to be a good
question. You just never know what might happen to you.
The article says that more than 6,000 Americans died abroad last year. The data comes from the State
Department, and goes further to say that those who passed where tourists, business travelers, and longtime
expatriates. The reasons for death were varied. Old age plays a role, so do diseases. But more than half of travelers’
deaths were due to injuries from traffic accidents and other unforeseen events. That is the result of a survey of
international research published in the Journal of Travel Medicine.
So what do you do to prepare to…well, not to die overseas, but what do you do to stay safe, and to help yourself
when traveling? Buckle your seat belt, says the article. OK, duh. But also you should carry certain documents
when abroad, and leave photocopies of them with friends or family at home. This can help (ugh) families more
easily handle your remains and can make it smooth the effort of survivors and family members
to deal with the practicalities of your death.
OK, that’s enough of that. I don’t even want to think about this anymore. But read the piece it does offer some
good advice.