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Too sick to drive?

Being sick or injured is never fun and being stuck at home often makes a person feel even worse. At times, being able to go out, even for a short while, can make for a refreshing change and result in the patient feeling better. Of course, if it is a major illness or injury, a doctor should give the okay for traveling, even if only for a short while. And of course, leaving the home while suffering from an infectious condition is a big no-no.

Image Courtesy: Pexels
If you are allowed to go out, driving yourself can be a tempting option. It does give you a feeling of independence that your illness or injury has taken from you. But driving when unwell is not just unsafe, it can be dangerous to you and to others as well. A recent survey revealed that when people thought they were too ill to go to work, a large number of them still thought they were well enough to drive. That is always a big mistake. Safe driving demands both concentration and fast reactions. Both of these can be negatively affected by even a minor illness. Additionally, medications, even over the counter ones, can cause drowsiness and affect concentration. Among the most common illnesses and injuries that people mistakenly think they can drive with are:

•  The flu: The overall discomfort and body ache of the flu is common and it is easy to think that it is something that will not affect the ability to drive. Flu medications, tiredness, body ache, dizziness and the other signs of the illness all combine to make driving very dangerous.

•  Ear infections: These are not just very painful; they can affect your hearing and sense of balance and even cause vertigo. Any of these symptoms can come up suddenly and if it happens when you are driving, an accident is waiting to happen.

•  Migraines: Migraines are not just bad headaches. They cause incapacitating bouts of pain that can cause the body to spasm or even lead to fainting spells. There is no need to spell out what the result will be if this happens while driving.

•  A broken arm: One arm may be able to turn the steering wheel but that does not mean the car can be controlled. 2 arms are required to maneuver a car and trying to do it with one is going to cause an accident.

If you are too ill or your injury is such that you cannot drive, the chances are that even traveling as a passenger in a car will be uncomfortable. An uncomfortable journey will counter any benefits that may come from being able to leave the house for a while. That means using taxis is out – finding one and then traveling in discomfort is not worth it. The same applies to getting a ride from a friend – the discomfort and strain could make you feel worse. Public transport in the form of busses or subways is just too stressful when you are unwell. That leaves only one option for safe and comfortable travel when you are ill or injured - using Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). These vehicles are specially modified to provide those who are unwell, injured or have mobility issues with a safe and comfortable form of travel. A top-class professional NEMT service will have trained drivers who understand the needs of those who are unwell and injured when they are traveling by road. Such a company will offer special services like doorstep pick up and event standby so you can go where you want when you want and come home in comfort. The cost is reasonable. All these factors make using a NEMTcompany for your transportation needs when you are not able to travel by car the best option.

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