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Before you leave...
See your
Doctor for
-
physical examination (ask a for note
about your illnesses)
-
immunizations (seek a travel
medicine specialist)
-
review your medications
- ask
for copies of prescriptions
-
request generic names
-
for customs purposes (needles
for insulin, etc)
-
replacements might be needed if
you lose/misplace your drugs
What
shots/immunizations do you need?
-
These depend on your health status
and your itinerary.
- This
is the time to review your
immunizations (measles, mumps,
Tetanus, etc)
-
Yellow fever and meningococcal
vaccines are required by some
countries.
-
Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccines are
most commonly recommended if you go
to highly endemic areas.
Vaccines are usually given at the same time
and reactions if present are local site
injection pains and these are usually mild.
Prepare a Basic Health
Kit
-
analgesic/aspirin
-
bandages, band-aid
-
antimotility drugs (e.g. immodium)
-
thermometer
- drugs
for motion illness
- nasal
decongestant spray
- for
those with allergies
-
insect sting kit (Epi-pen)
-
cortisone cream
-
antihistamine (e.g. Benadryl)
- For your
eyes
-
extra pairs of contact lenses,
solutions
-
extra pair of eyeglasses
- copy
of eye prescription (in case you
need replacement of glasses)
- For the
sun
- hat
-
sunglasses
-
sunblock cream/lotion
- For
insects, esp.in areas with malaria
-
carry a mosquito or bednet
- DEET
30% at least (may damage plastics)
-
permethrin for clothing
Other essentials
before leaving
-
Call the Travel
Advisory/Consulate of the country of
your destination (political situations/emergencies, climate)
-
Read a guide
book--start with your local library
-
Notify your family
about your itinerary
-
CHECKLIST (always in hand carry)
-
passport / visa
(make copies place them in a secure
place other than your handcarry)
-
airline tickets
-
phone numbers
(destination/hotel, family, travel
agent)
-
phone cards
-
moneybelt/credit
cards
When you get
to your destination...
-
Food
- Eat
well cooked food, well done
meat/fish, not reheated food
- Avoid
desserts/creamy food left standing
in room temperature
- Avoid
salads
-
Choose fruits that you can peel
-
Water
- drink
capped bottled water or boiled water
- Avoid
ice (tap water may have been used)
- Avoid
Casual Sex
-
Sexually transmitted disease are
common despite information about
AIDS, Hepatitis B & C, etc.
-
Condoms are not 100% protective.
-
Avoid these as well
-
Tattoo - needles
may not be sterile
-
ear or body
piercing
- needles
may not be sterile
-
manicure - instruments
may not be sterile
Most of these
reminders are from common sense….
When you come back
home and have a fever or have other symptoms
seek medical advice
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