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.
The CDC website at www.cdc.gov/travel has information on suggested immunizations for every country you may be planning to travel. They also have suggested precautions for a healthy trip.
2. Brush your teeth with bottled water.
Local water supplies can carry diseases that often cause illness in travelers but not in natives. Use bottled water to brush your teeth. If bottled water is not available, boiling local water for a minimum of 1 minute and allowing it to cool to room temperature will kill bacteria and parasites that can cause illness.
3. Peel fruits and vegetables, don't eat them raw with the skin.
Locally grown foods, like the water, can carry diseases that cause illness to a traveler. Dr. Rosenfeld advises removing the skin from raw vegetables and fruits before eating, while the CDC suggests not purchasing food from street vendors. Only eat food that has been fully cooked.
4. Take additional prescription medication with you.
There is nothing worse than running out of needed medication while on vacation. Prepare for the unexpected by taking more medication with you than the number of days you actually expect to travel. Delays and the unexpected can happen, so be prepared.
5. Take a first aid kit.
Build a first aid kit to pack in your suitcase. A smaller kit that you can keep with you is a good idea as well. In your suitcase kit, include anti-diarrheal medication, mild laxative and anti-motion pills as your destination dictates. You should also include antihistamine and decongestant, anti-fungal and hydro cortisone cream in 1% solution. The kit that stays with you through your day should include anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotic cream and the typical assortment of alcohol pads, latex gloves, band aids and moleskin for blisters.
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. Avoid swimming in ponds or lakes.
It is fine to swim in chlorinated pools and the ocean, but do not swim in still bodies of water like ponds or lakes. Don't swim in rivers either. The same bacterial and parasitic concerns of drinking water exist in still bodies of recreational water.
8. Be mosquito aware.
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.
Should a serious illness or injury occur to you or a traveling partner, there are several places you can seek help. One such organization is MEDEX, www.medexassist.com. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and The International Society of Travel Medicine are two more organizations that offer different areas of help. Check their websites for more information before leaving.
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.
