Travel Tip: Life Saving Devices You Can Use on the Road [ 1:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Travel is stressful enough, but the fear of getting sick or injured away from home can really add to the concern. Fortunately, there are now some life saving devices you can use while you’re on the road.

Look around airports, casinos and—more recently—public areas in hotels for a small box mounted to a wall.

That’s an automated external defibrillator that almost anyone can operate—whether or not they’re trained—and it can save someone who is in cardiac arrest.

In fact, studies show that having public access to these defibrillators can double the chance of survival.

If you’re headed anywhere that’s considered off the grid, pack something called a Personal Locator Beacon. This device uses a satellite to track your location and will send out a distress signal in the case of an emergency.

They’re small and they’re available at almost any wilderness store.

Lastly, there’s the most important thing that can save a life: clean water. Water purification tablets are easy to pack and can make almost any water drinkable.

Plus, a device called a LifeStraw is available in developing nations around the world to filter bacteria and parasites out of contaminated water—no chemicals or batteries required.

For more information, visit the Travel Gear Archives.

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