Sometimes bad things happen on good vacations.  A little sunburn, a medical emergency, lost medications.  What do you do when the unexpected happens?  Of course, if there is a life-threatening emergency, then call 911, but for less-urgent situations use this guide to help you get better before your vacation is over.

First-aid care is offered free of charge in the CBD area by the New Orleans Public Safety Rangers.  All Rangers are certified in first aid and CPR by the American Red Cross.  Bicycle Rangers carry basic first aid kits.  To reach a Ranger, call 504-415-1730. during regular hours:  Rangers are on duty 6 days a week (noon – 9:00 p. m., Tuesday through Friday and 10:00 a. m.  -  7:00 p. m., Saturday and Sunday).

Drug stores are easy to find in New Orleans.  That’s a good thing; they can be life savers, literally and figuratively.  Lost your reading glasses?  Drug store.  Forgot your prescription?  Drug store.  Need some ibuprofen because you had too much fun the night before?  Drug store.  411 NOLA has put together an easy-to-use reference guide to help you find a drug store quickly when you need one the most.

• Walgreens, 619 Decatur St.  Open 8:00 a. m. to 10:00 p. m. daily.  Pharmacy hours are 9:00 a. m. to 7:00 p. m. M – F, 9:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. on Saturdays, and 10:00 a. m. to 4:00 p. m. on Sundays.  504-525-7263
• Walgreens, 900 Canal St.  Open 7:00 a. m. to midnight 7 days a week.  Pharmacy hours are 8:00 a. m to 8:00 p. m. M – F, 9:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m. on Saturdays, and 10:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m. on Sundays.  504-568-1271
• Find other area Walgreens stores by clicking here.
• CVS, 800 Canal St.  Open 7:00 a. m. to midnight 7 days a week.  Pharmacy hours are 8:00 a. m. to 8:00 p. m. M – F, 8:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m. Saturdays, and 10:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m. Sundays.  504-528-7099

New Orleans Urgent Care is staffed with board certified physicians with experience in Urgent Care, Family Medicine, and Emergency Medicine.  The center is located in the Warehouse District at 900 Magazine St.  The staff is multilingual with persons speaking Spanish, German, French, Italian and Croatian.  Most major insurance plans are accepted.  Call 504-552-2433 for more info or email the center at fd@neworleansurgentcare.com.

There is an abundance of hospitals in the Crescent City.  The medical district is located just north of the CBD.  It includes Tulane University Hospital, the VA Hospital, and the interim LSU Pubilc Hospital.  The Touro Infirmary is located in the Garden District just off of St. Charles Ave.  For more information, please call 504-897-7011.  Our city’s Children’s Hospital lies Uptown at 200 Henry Clay Ave.  Its phone number is 504-899-9511.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Wear good shoes and plenty of sunscreen.  Don’t drink so much that it hurts.  Wait for the signal before you cross the street.  And whatever you do, don’t pick up dirty beads off of the ground.  Ewww…