8 Absolutely Vital Steps to Healthy Travel Abroad

Honest Mind, Loving Heart, Strength in Body! The Martial Arts way of Life at The Taekwondo Network


by Kalynn Amadio

Traveling abroad is exciting and fun. Exotic destinations could mean more risk for health problems and more difficulty acquiring good medical care.

Plan your travel health as carefully as your travel itinerary with the Fox News Channel's Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld suggested 8 Tips for Travel that will ensure a safe, happy and healthy vacation.

1. Get updated vaccinations.

Current immunizations recommended for every country are available from the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/travel. The CDC site has great information on the various ways to guard your health while traveling abroad.

2. Do not brush your teeth with tap water.

Local water sometimes carries parasites and bacteria that can make a non-local ill. For that reason, don't brush with tap water use bottled water instead. In lieu of bottled water, boiling local tap water for a at least 1 minute will kill any diseases that could cause illness.

3. Try and peel vegetables and fruits before eating them.

Like local water, food can also carry disease for the traveler. The CDC recommends not eating food purchased from street vendors. Dr. Rosenfeld suggests peeling fresh fruits and vegetables, not eating the raw skin. Make sure any food you eat is fully cooked.

4. Take extra medication with you.

There is nothing worse than running out of needed medication while on vacation. Prepare for the unexpected by taking more medication with you than the number of days you actually expect to travel. Delays and the unexpected can happen, so be prepared.

5. Take a first aid kit.

Make your own first aid kit and keep it with you on your travels. Be sure to include pain and anti-inflammatory medication, topical antibiotic cream and antihistamine and/or decongestant. You should also consider anti-malaria meds if your destination warrants. Also take anti-motion medication, antacids, mild laxative and anti-diarrheal medication. If you like throat lozenges bring them. Anti-fungal and 1% hydro cortisone creams are also a good idea. The usual cadre of band aids, moleskin for blisters and alcohol pads and latex gloves to treat others are important.

6. Invest in travel insurance.

Canceling an anticipated trip is disappointing to say the least. Don't let that disappointment become a financial problem as well. Purchase travel insurance to cover the unexpected, especially for an expensive trip.

7. Avoid swimming in ponds or lakes.

Parasitic and bacterial diseases can exist in lakes and ponds as they can in local drinking water. Avoid swimming in still bodies of water. Swimming in the ocean or in chlorinated swimming pools is okay. But swimming in a local river should be avoided.

8. Be mosquito aware.

Bring insect repellent including DEET of 20-50% for adults and children over 2 months. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants and spray them as well. Wear sunscreen first then apply the repellent and wash off again before going to bed. These precautions will help fight off mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. Mosquitoes transmitting malaria are most active at dusk and dawn while daytime mosquitoes tend to transmit dengue fever.

Should a serious illness or injury occur to you or a traveling partner, there are several places you can seek help. One such organization is MEDEX, www.medexassist.com. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and The International Society of Travel Medicine are two more organizations that offer different areas of help. Check their websites for more information before leaving.

Travel healthy by being prepared. Take pleasure in knowing you are ready for the unexpected which of course means the unexpected can't happen.

Kalynn is going to South Korea to take part in the World Taekwondo Culture Expo. See Kalynn's martial arts website, Taekwondo-Network to learn the wonders of a martial arts way of life. You can get a unique content version of this article.