Holidays give you the chance to relax and explore the world, but if you’re not careful, you can put your health at risk while satisfying your wanderlust.
To help you avoid medical problems while you’re away from home, take a look at these five top travel safety tips.
1) Get the relevant vaccinations
Before you pack your bags and set off on your adventures, it’s wise to take advantage of travel health services at home. Depending on where you’re planning to go on vacation, you might be at risk of a number of diseases and so it’s wise to get any relevant vaccinations.
By booking an appointment at a travel health clinic or visiting websites such as https://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com, you can find out more about the vaccinations on offer and discover which, if any, you could benefit from having.
For example, you may require a hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccine. Other diseases that you may need immunity to include typhoid, rabies, meningitis, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis.
2) Avoid insect bites
If you’re going to a tropical or subtropical country, it’s important to be aware of the danger of malaria. This unpleasant and potentially fatal disease is spread by mosquitoes that are infected with a particular parasite.
Prescription medicines are available that can help your body to fight off the parasite. However, you should also take care to limit your exposure to bites. To do this, try to be indoors as much as possible between dusk and dawn, which is when the malaria parasite carrying mosquitoes bite.
Also, sleep under mosquito nets and wear loose trousers and long-sleeved tops in the evenings. It’s a good idea to use insect repellents containing the chemical DEET as well.
3) Take care when eating and drinking
If you’re in countries with poor sanitation, don’t drink tap water or use it when you’re brushing your teeth. Use sealed bottled water instead. Also, don’t put ice in your drinks and avoid salads and uncooked fruits unless you’ve prepared them yourself.
You should also steer clear of any food that has been cooked and left out at room temperature, as well as dairy products if they are unpasteurised.
4) Be safe in the sun
Be sensible when it comes to sun exposure too. Even if you’re keen to top up your tan, you should make sure you don’t get burned or suffer sunstroke.
It’s important to spend time in the shade during the hottest part of the day between 11am and 3pm and protect your skin and eyes with suitable creams, clothing, hats and sunglasses.
Make sure you drink enough water and other hydrating fluids as well.
5) Take out insurance
It’s also savvy to make sure you have suitable travel health insurance in place before you set off on your adventures.
No matter how cautious you are, it’s impossible to rule out the risk that you’ll suffer an injury or illness abroad and, if you do, you’ll need to be able to cover the cost of medical treatment.
