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What are some essential items that travelers should pack to minimize their risk of infection during travel?
Travelers: Tips for Staying Healthy Abroad
Traveling should be an exciting and exciting experience. But, when it comes to being away from home, there are some extra precautions travelers need to take in order to stay healthy. Infection prevention for travelers is especially important for those traveling to distant locations, or to areas with less developed healthcare systems. In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip, here are some tips for staying healthy abroad.
Check Immunization Requirements
Before heading out on a trip, many countries have stricter guidelines on what types of vaccinations a person needs to have. The requirements and guidelines on immunizations change rapidly, so it’s important to check their policy before travel. Staying up-to-date on the recommended vaccines for a specific country or region is the best way to ensure a safe journey.
Protect Yourself from Insects
Many infectious diseases are spread by insect bites. To reduce the risk for insect-transmitted infections, it’s important to take necessary steps to avoid insect bites. Some precautionary measures include wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and hats when outdoors, as well as avoiding areas with heavily concentrated populations of mosquitoes. Additionally, it’s best to apply insect repellent when venturing outside.
Stay Well Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is always paramount to staying healthy abroad. During a long flight or if visiting a warm climate, travelers should consider bringing an empty, refillable water bottle they can fill up whenever they come across a safe drinking source. Additionally, opting for bottled water when out and about is always encouraged.
Practice Safe Food Habits
Food- and water-borne illnesses are often linked to the food and water consumed abroad. To lower the risk of contracting a food- or water-borne illness, it’s important practice safe food habits. Avoid eating raw fruits or vegetables, and opt for cooked items. It’s also best to avoid eating from outdoor food stands or food vendors. Additionally, ensuring the water used to clean fruits and vegetables is safe is another important way to prevent food-borne illnesses. When in doubt, it’s better to forgo eating certain food items.
Take the Necessary Health Precautions
When heading out on a trip overseas it’s important to prepare a medical kit that includes over-the-counter medications, basic medical supplies, and a copy of a traveler’s medical records. Additionally, consider carrying a medical alert bracelet or necklace if you suffer from a medical condition and if a local language is spoken in the area of travel. Lastly, it’s important to seek medical care immediately if any symptoms of an infectious illness develop during or after your stay.
Infection prevention for travelers is critical in order to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. By following the steps above, travelers can arm themselves and be better prepared for any health issues that can arise from visiting a different country.
Keywords:
Travellers, Stay Healthy, Infection Prevention, Immunization Requirements, Insects, Hydration, Safe Food, Health Precautions
