Home | Travel
Traveling abroad is exciting and fun. Exotic destinations could mean more risk for health problems and more difficulty acquiring good medical care. Plan your travel health as carefully as your travel itinerary with the Fox News Channel's Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld suggested 8 Tips for Travel that will ensure a safe, happy and healthy 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. Only brush your teeth with bottled water. Because local water can have bacteria and parasites, don't brush your teeth with tap water. If bottled water is unavailable, boiling water for at least 1 minute is long enough to kill any diseases and avoid 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 extra medication with you. Your vacation should be fun. The anxiety you would undoubtedly feel by running out of necessary prescription medication could ruin good memories of the trip. Do yourself a favor and avoid that anxiety by packing extra medication beyond the number of days you plan to be away. Murphy's Law exists; negate it by being prepared. 5. Take a first aid kit. Make your own first aid kit and keep it with you on your travels. Be sure to include pain and anti-inflammatory medication, topical antibiotic cream and antihistamine and/or decongestant. You should also consider anti-malaria meds if your destination warrants. Also take anti-motion medication, antacids, mild laxative and anti-diarrheal medication. If you like throat lozenges bring them. Anti-fungal and 1% hydro cortisone creams are also a good idea. The usual cadre of band aids, moleskin for blisters and alcohol pads and latex gloves to treat others are important. 6. Purchase 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. No swimming in lakes or ponds. Parasitic and bacterial diseases can exist in lakes and ponds as they can in local drinking water. Avoid swimming in still bodies of water. Swimming in the ocean or in chlorinated swimming pools is okay. But swimming in a local river should be avoided. 8. Be mosquito aware. Bring insect repellent including DEET of 20-50% for adults and children over 2 months. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants and spray them as well. Wear sunscreen first then apply the repellent and wash off again before going to bed. These precautions will help fight off mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. Mosquitoes transmitting malaria are most active at dusk and dawn while daytime mosquitoes tend to transmit 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.
Article Source: http://www.rightarticle.com
Kalynn Amadio is going to S. Korea to take part in the World Taekwondo Culture Expo. Visit Kalynn's tae kwon do website, Taekwondo-Network to learn the wonders of a tae kwon do way of life.
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
