Americans largely believe that most of the scientific systems that we use every day are universal. That is, most of us believe that the systems we use are used all over the world. This, however, is not the case.

The metric system is the most used system of measurement across the world. Here in the United States, however, we use the Standard System, or the Standard American Engineering (SAE) System. This is where we use measurements such as inches, gallons, and pounds.

The same can be said about how Americans measure temperature. While many believe that the Fahrenheit scale is the most widely used, the United States is in a very small percentage of countries that use this system as its standard.

No matter what system you’re most familiar with, when you’re traveling overseas, it’s ideal to know how to convert grams to pounds, and this is useful knowledge in real-world applications.

Medical Reasons

When it comes to traveling overseas, whether for business or for touring a new destination for pleasure, you have to play it safe.

Foreign lands have rules and social mores that many American’s are unaware of and generally aren’t accustomed to. It’s vital in many places overseas that you educate yourself on the customs and rules of a certain region prior to any overseas travel, otherwise, you might be in for an unpleasant experience.

With this in mind, normally you wouldn’t think that knowing how to convert grams to pounds would be a life-saving skill. But, this is exactly what it could be.

While Americans and people of other western countries are used to measuring weight in pounds, overseas it is much more common to use the metric system. And this calls for measuring weight in kilos.

If you find yourself injured and need serious medical assistance, perhaps even needing emergency surgery, knowing your weight is critical especially for taking certain medications and for anesthesia. The wrong dose of medication can cause serious health issues and could potentially even kill you if your true weight isn’t given in the proper format.

Trade and Barter

If you don’t know how to convert grams to pounds or vice versa, you’ll have to do a lot of guesswork when it comes to trading or bartering. This can be applied to everything from collecting ingredients for recipes to trading for valuables.

Many countries overseas are known to operate on a barter system, especially lesser-traveled regions. For those looking to have an experience of this sort, it’s necessary not only for you to be aware of a regional system of measurement, but to understand conversions so that you’ll know exactly how much you’re being offered for your trade items.

Some areas are famous for raw diamond mines, gold, and other precious stones and metals. Many times, you can acquire jewelry or other valuables through trade or barter. But, you need to know the weight of an item so that you can also know its value.

Understanding the proper conversions will ensure that you get your fair share in a barter system.

Weight Restrictions

In today’s world, weight costs money when you travel. If you plan on flying, many flight carriers have limits on how much weight one passenger can bring on board. Additionally, some countries (including the U.S.) have weight restrictions on specific items that you might want to bring back with you from your travels.

Such things as liquid or food items in carry-on’s are often the subject of inspection and are only allowed up to a certain amount.

When you understand how to properly calculate and convert grams to pounds and vice-versa, you’ll ensure that you don’t bring any excess or unauthorized weight onboard your flight. This will surely save you a headache when boarding, as excess weight is often a reason for flagged or prolonged inspections when boarding flights.

In the simplest terms, knowledge is power. Understanding how to convert weight and measurements is a skill that anyone can benefit from, especially for those who enjoy world travel.

No matter the reason, knowing conversions is also a large part of being able to communicate effectively with others in a foreign country. And, when you can communicate with others effectively, you’ll be able to enjoy your time away much more.