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 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 handcarry)
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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