8 Easy Ways to Ensure Healthy Travel Out of the Country

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8 Easy Ways to Ensure Healthy Travel Out of the Country

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Written by Kalynn Amadio

Tuesday, 15 April 2008

A vacation overseas is an exciting event. Exotic locations can mean a greater risk for potential health problems and a larger chance of not finding adequate medical services.

by KalynnAmadio

A vacation overseas is an exciting event. Exotic locations can mean a greater risk for potential health problems and a larger chance of not finding adequate medical services.

Why not prepare your travel health details as carefully as your itinerary? A happy, healthy and safe excursion could depend on using Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the Fox News Channel's 8 Travel Tips for an overseas vacation.

1. Get updated vaccinations.

Check with the CDC on the internet at www.cdc.gov/travel and specify which countries you will be traveling, to check on the current immunizations required. This site also has many suggestions on staying healthy during your trip.

2. Do not brush your teeth with tap water.

Local water sometimes carries parasites and bacteria that can make a non-local ill. For that reason, don't brush with tap water use bottled water instead. In lieu of bottled water, boiling local tap water for a at least 1 minute will kill any diseases that could cause illness.

3. Try and peel vegetables and fruits before eating them.

Like local water, food can also carry disease for the traveler. The CDC recommends not eating food purchased from street vendors. Dr. Rosenfeld suggests peeling fresh fruits and vegetables, not eating the raw skin. Make sure any food you eat is fully cooked.

4. Take additional medication with you.

Running out of necessary medicine could ruin a great vacation. The unexpected does happen, so why not prepare for it now? Plan on packing several days more prescription medication than the number of days you plan on traveling. Then you can rest easy during a delay, knowing your health is secure.

5. Build your own first aid kit.

Create one or two first aid kits. Why two kits? One that you keep in your suitcase and the other to keep on your person. In the suitcase include anti-motion, anti-diarrheal medications and a mild laxative. A package of preferred decongestant and antihistamine should be included with 1% hydro cortisone and anti-fungal creams. In your personal kit keep latex gloves, band aids, moleskin for blisters and antibiotic cream. Anti-inflammatory medicine of your choice and throat lozenges are important as well.

6. Invest in travel insurance.

Because no one has a crystal ball, it's a good idea to purchase travel insurance so an anticipated trip isn't a disappointment financially as well as emotionally when something goes wrong.

7. Do not swim in still bodies of water.

Don't worry about swimming in the ocean or a chlorinated pool. However, you should avoid swimming in local rivers, lakes and ponds. Those same parasites that could exist in the local drinking water will be in still bodies of recreational water as well.

8. Prepare for mosquitoes.

Pack insect repellent that contains 20-50% DEET. This level is acceptable for adults and children over 2 months. You can wear pants and long sleeves as well. It's helpful to spray your clothes with repellent too. If you'll need sunscreen, apply it first then use repellent and make sure to wash off before bed. These safety measures will fend off ticks, fleas and mosquitoes. Malaria transmitting mosquitoes are more active at dawn and dusk. Daytime biters tend to pass dengue fever.

If a member of your party is unfortunate enough to have a serious injury or illness abroad, seek help from one of several organizations available to help like MEDEX at www.medexassist.com or The International Society of Travel Medicine and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene which both have websites and provide travel directories of clinics.

So be prepared and travel healthy. Enjoy your vacation with no anxiety because you know you've already prepared for the worst. And of course, if you are prepared, the worst will never happen.

About the Author:

Kalynn Amadio is traveling to S. Korea to participate in the World Taekwondo Culture Expo. See Kalynn's tae kwon do website, Taekwondo-Network to learn the wonders of a tae kwon do lifestyle. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service