Traveling Internationally and Staying Healthy
SOURCE:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It's that time of year when students take a break from the books and head out of town for spring break! If your spring break plans include international travel, take a few minutes to learn how to prepare for a healthy and safe trip.
Prepare
It is very important to see a doctor before you travel to an international destination.
Let others in on your spring break adventure by sharing important information about your trip.
Remember: it's always a good idea to be prepared, especially when it comes to your health. Learn how to plan ahead and what to do if you become sick or injured on your trip.
Don't forget to pack smart.
Stay Healthy
It's also important to pay attention to your health while you are traveling. While you need to learn and understand the health risks specific to your destination, here are some general travel health tips:
Wash your hands often with soap and clean water or use an alcohol-based hand gel before you eat, after you cough or sneeze, and after you go to the bathroom.
To prevent animal bites and rabies, avoid touching or petting animals, especially dogs and wildlife.
If you are going to a country with avian influenza, lower your risk of getting this disease by avoiding poultry markets and farms. Do not touch birds or any surface that may have bird droppings on it.
Use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD, or IR3535.
To prevent infections such as HIV and hepatitis B, avoid receiving tattoos, body piercings, or injections.
Avoid engaging in sexual behaviors that might place you at risk for sexually transmitted diseases. Use latex condoms if you have sex.
For travel to cold weather climates, make sure that you pack clothes and gear that will protect you against cold temperatures. Spending long amounts of time in very cold weather can be dangerous and can result in hypothermia or frostbite. Protect yourself from the cold by following these tips:
Dress warmly and in layers.
Wear inner clothing layers made from wool, silk, or polypropylene, as they retain more body heat than cotton.
Wear insulated and waterproof shoes to prevent cold, wet feet.
Don't forget a hat, scarf, and mittens or gloves.
If you are traveling to a warm weather climate, don't forget to protect yourself against heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Stay cool with these tips:
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Make sure to drink even more fluids during exercise.
Limit outdoor activities to morning and evening hours.
Wear a hat and use sunscreen, even on cloudy days.
Overexposure to harmful UV rays can lead to another health problem found in all destinations: sunburn. Countries that are near the equator and areas of higher elevation receive more UV rays, making short exposures to the sun more dangerous. Outdoor activities, such as skiing and swimming, increase sun exposure. Prevent sunburn by following these tips:
Use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
Be sure to reapply sunscreen often, especially after swimming.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with almost 100% UV protection.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants that have a tight weave.
Seek shade while outside, especially between 10 a.m.–4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest.
Stay Safe
Injuries involving car, bus, and motorcycle crashes, as well as pedestrian injuries are more common during travel than you might think. Motor vehicle injuries are actually the leading cause of preventable death among international travelers. Follow these tips to help prevent injuries in cars and other vehicles:
Wear a seat belt.
Ride only in marked taxis.
Be alert when crossing the street, especially in countries where automobiles travel on the opposite side of the road from in the United States. Avoid travel on overloaded buses or vans.
When possible, hire a local driver instead of driving yourself. Ask your hotel for a trustworthy driver or taxi company.
Avoid local air travel at night, and during inclement weather.
Don't drink and drive.
Swimming and other water sports, such as scuba diving are common activities for warm weather travelers. Don't forget to be safe when doing activities in and around water.
Avoid alcohol and drug use before and during water activities.
Select areas that have good water quality and safe conditions.
Be careful around marine plants and animals, especially coral.
Do not swim if you have diarrhea.
Try not to get any swimming water in your mouth. If you accidentally get water in your mouth, don't swallow it.
Copyright © 2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It's that time of year when students take a break from the books and head out of town for spring break! If your spring break plans include international travel, take a few minutes to learn how to prepare for a healthy and safe trip.
Prepare
It is very important to see a doctor before you travel to an international destination.
Let others in on your spring break adventure by sharing important information about your trip.
Remember: it's always a good idea to be prepared, especially when it comes to your health. Learn how to plan ahead and what to do if you become sick or injured on your trip.
Don't forget to pack smart.
Stay Healthy
It's also important to pay attention to your health while you are traveling. While you need to learn and understand the health risks specific to your destination, here are some general travel health tips:
Wash your hands often with soap and clean water or use an alcohol-based hand gel before you eat, after you cough or sneeze, and after you go to the bathroom.
To prevent animal bites and rabies, avoid touching or petting animals, especially dogs and wildlife.
If you are going to a country with avian influenza, lower your risk of getting this disease by avoiding poultry markets and farms. Do not touch birds or any surface that may have bird droppings on it.
Use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD, or IR3535.
To prevent infections such as HIV and hepatitis B, avoid receiving tattoos, body piercings, or injections.
Avoid engaging in sexual behaviors that might place you at risk for sexually transmitted diseases. Use latex condoms if you have sex.
For travel to cold weather climates, make sure that you pack clothes and gear that will protect you against cold temperatures. Spending long amounts of time in very cold weather can be dangerous and can result in hypothermia or frostbite. Protect yourself from the cold by following these tips:
Dress warmly and in layers.
Wear inner clothing layers made from wool, silk, or polypropylene, as they retain more body heat than cotton.
Wear insulated and waterproof shoes to prevent cold, wet feet.
Don't forget a hat, scarf, and mittens or gloves.
If you are traveling to a warm weather climate, don't forget to protect yourself against heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Stay cool with these tips:
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Make sure to drink even more fluids during exercise.
Limit outdoor activities to morning and evening hours.
Wear a hat and use sunscreen, even on cloudy days.
Overexposure to harmful UV rays can lead to another health problem found in all destinations: sunburn. Countries that are near the equator and areas of higher elevation receive more UV rays, making short exposures to the sun more dangerous. Outdoor activities, such as skiing and swimming, increase sun exposure. Prevent sunburn by following these tips:
Use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
Be sure to reapply sunscreen often, especially after swimming.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with almost 100% UV protection.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants that have a tight weave.
Seek shade while outside, especially between 10 a.m.–4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest.
Stay Safe
Injuries involving car, bus, and motorcycle crashes, as well as pedestrian injuries are more common during travel than you might think. Motor vehicle injuries are actually the leading cause of preventable death among international travelers. Follow these tips to help prevent injuries in cars and other vehicles:
Wear a seat belt.
Ride only in marked taxis.
Be alert when crossing the street, especially in countries where automobiles travel on the opposite side of the road from in the United States. Avoid travel on overloaded buses or vans.
When possible, hire a local driver instead of driving yourself. Ask your hotel for a trustworthy driver or taxi company.
Avoid local air travel at night, and during inclement weather.
Don't drink and drive.
Swimming and other water sports, such as scuba diving are common activities for warm weather travelers. Don't forget to be safe when doing activities in and around water.
Avoid alcohol and drug use before and during water activities.
Select areas that have good water quality and safe conditions.
Be careful around marine plants and animals, especially coral.
Do not swim if you have diarrhea.
Try not to get any swimming water in your mouth. If you accidentally get water in your mouth, don't swallow it.
Copyright © 2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
posted by ISA Global Benefits at
12:12 PM
2 Comments:
Being the bread of our family, I am really after money saving ideas. Saving money from gas expenses is really amazing and of course very important for me.
Being the bread of our family, I am really after money saving ideas. Saving money from gas expenses is really amazing and of course very important for me.
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