My dear travellers, today I have in your case a very important and needed entry regarding health insurance our safety through the journey. Many factors promote a successful journey, and something of the most important would be the knowledge and knowledge of situations that could (whilst they do not have to get preventive in any respect!) Meet us in a number of corners of the planet. Discovering new, often unfamiliar places is fantastic, but somewhere on this eurofia, an ambush, crazy taking photos of subsequent landscapes and looking the next exotic dishes, there has to be a place to get a rational strategy to taking care of yourself.
If somebody thinks that they are untouchable and so on vacation or using a journey of dreams only beautiful situations take place in film, they are unfortunately wrong. Regardless of what will be the purpose of our journey and what exactly is its nature, caring for health should be the number one of the activities. During the holiday period, the regularity of trips increases, but this trend is slowly changing and travels appear all year round. And more and even more often they’re remote, tropical and culturally different places. This means that – specifically in a new place – we have to be well prepared for all possible situations, to ensure that we can easily experience the journey.
The total well being and sanitary conditions in Europe have become high, therefore we are accustomed to it and quite often we do not recognize how many aspects we should instead pay attention to throughout a stay in another country, especially built to be less developed, incorporates a different bacterial flora or diseases that won’t occur in home country.
Let’s also overthrow the myth that, with short trips, for instance in Europe, you can wave our hand for proper preparation. It won’t matter whether we’re going to Croatia to get a week or perhaps a month’s holiday to the Amazon. The principles of looking after health, safety and widely understood travel prophylaxis sign up for EVERYWHERE.
I am not here to scare you, but to discuss my travel experience and what I have often come across health out and about. Most important, however, could be the fact that the majority of dangerous situations and diseases can be simply avoided by using the basic principles of PREVENTION, ie prevention before hand.
Remember that vaccinations before departure will be the basis, nevertheless the vaccinations alone tend not to protect us from infection, so our main aim is to prevent any disease from being infected. And for we have some security rules in everyday functioning.
That’s why today I am on the go and I have gathered available for you the most important rules that any of us travellers has to know and apply. Because we agree, there’s nothing worse than being sick traveling.
In originally, we must remember about water. It is contaminated water and food prepared into it that are signs causes of traveler’s illness. Especially when you are looking at poorly civilized world, that are a frequent destination of exotic travels. Diseases which can be infected by infected water are, one example is, travelers’ diarrhea, typhoid fever, type A jaundice or cholera (hence the vaccination because of these diseases is certainly recommended, because despite appearances, it isn’t rare).
The proper way to treat water would be to cook it, since it kills all pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites. If it can be not possible to boil water (eg during survival expeditions), it really is worthwhile to have chemical treatment agents containing iodine, chlorine or silver compounds, or modern microfiltering filters (portable point-of-use).
RULES YOU NEED TO REMEMBER
1. Drink only bottled water
(using a closure protected with foil that’s not used in Poland) or canned. Even in restaurants, order water in the bottle, not just one that will be served inside a jug or directly in a very glass.
Warning! In India, I met with cases that this water bought from street kiosks was poured into plastic bottles in the well, and then using a lighter the cork was melted so it will be look pre-bottled (!). There is a patent because of it: always squeeze the bottle with water firmly, in the event the cork doesn’t fire, it means that this bottle was closed on the factory and you’ll boldly drink it.
2. Avoid drinks with ice received from an unknown source
Like you remember about bottled water, but wait, how hot it really is, man will not pay attention that plain tap water can also be found in your juice or drink. Inspecting the cause of water used may seem like a miracle, so I work with a simple rule – within the tropics I never drink ice-cold drinks. Believe me, it might be experienced, plus the problem of wondering when it would be good water definitely, disappears because the hand took away.
3. Wash vegatables and fruits with bottled or boiled water
Remember – a similar principle as using ice – washing food with faucet water or well isn’t a different to drinking it, because bacteria and viruses will just stick to the food. Even after washing, always get them. You can also burn your skin layer with boiling water, that could kill nearly all of the germs.
4. Avoid foods who have not been cooked sufficiently
High temperatures and humidity, together with poor food storage conditions, allow it to be vulnerable to an increase from the number of microorganisms that causes infection. This particularly is applicable to meat, eggs, seafood and milk products. Do not eat undercooked food and food that you’re not sure that it’s got undergone heat treatment or, as an example, may be out with the refrigerator for just a long time. Contrary to appearances, it’s not difficult to visit, by way of example stalls in Southeast Asia undoubtedly are a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses and fungi. Just look for the raw meat or fish, which and not using a refrigerator lie for the countertops for many people hours, and really should turn on that you warning lamp. Another example – Cuba and famous cakes with whipped cream sell for the street at 30 degrees (and not using a refrigerator). We definitely say NO to such snacks.
5. Watch out for street eateries and stalls
I know, I know, you can be outraged right this moment, because how you can go to a whole new place but not try the neighborhood cuisine in the points where mainly locals eat and in most cases very cheap. I’m not saying no thanks, however be careful. Try to choose those who work in which there’s a lot of traffic, so the meal has being prepared over a regular basis, and try the laundry cooked and fried. In addition, look closely at what these dishes are served – ideally, they’re disposable plates and cutlery, but not, as an example, plastic reusable. All you could have to do is look closely for the place to find out that your plate as soon as the predecessor just been roughly rinsed in a very large bowl of water that is there for a few hours and it has more bacteria inside than imaginable.
6. Brush your teeth with water in the bottle or boiled
Sounds fancy? But it really is not. Every experienced traveler will tell you the first moment you get to an exotic place would be to put a bottle of mineral water from the bathroom. For example, to keep in mind about her when brushing your teeth, because do not have a reflex to rinse the mouth with water from your bottle. I will go a step further – it’s also possible to wash your mind with such water, and when you think that it would be to much, always, but always close the mouth area washing the mouth area or bathing inside the shower (then dry the face plus the mouth area having a towel) by chance, will not swallow water. It’s still the identical tap water that people try to prevent, and quite often one drop will poison. Believe me, I did it in India – precisely because I forgot to seal my mouth, washing my hair inside the shower.
7. Wash both hands often and constantly wipe them
Frequent washing shortens life – says the adage, however, not this time. Hand hygiene is surely an absolute foundation. Always wash them before eating and rehearse soap. Additionally, make sure to dry your hands having a towel – for a similar reasons as above – in order to avoid mouth contact or food with water. And, best of, employ a MUST HAVE along with you every traveler – an alcohol-based disinfectant gel – and utilize it even with washing both hands.
Insects are actually a difficult opponent. There are plenty of those, they may be small and “spread while using speed of light.” Their intrusiveness isn’t limited to bubbles on your skin or unbearable buzzing on the ear. Insects are probably the most dangerous carriers of infectious diseases, including malaria, fever, dengue or Japanese encephalitis. Contrary to appearances, you merely need one insect bite for being infected. And these diseases are nasty as well as for some of these (eg malaria or dengue) there isn’t any currently available vaccine. It means our only weapon is prevention, maybe in short, usually do not let yourself bite. Because I assume which the use of the best method minimizing the danger, i.e. not eating places prone to morbidity (unfortunately, nowadays a large part on the planet and everything we call tropics),
RULES YOU NEED TO REMEMBER
1. Repellents, repellents and repellents
The simplest and most reliable rule – use repellents, that may be chemical substances, repelling insects. Choose, however, people that contain DEET or ikicdynÄ. The formula – spray, gel or roll-on is optional. It is also essential to know what concentration to select. In the case of DEET, it should not exceed 20% in youngsters and 50% in grown-ups. However, it truly is not the ideal remedy for infants under two months old. DEET agents continue for about 6 hours, however they should be used more regularly, for instance after a water bath.
My advice is: don’t hesitate to utilize repellents. Do not approach this: I don’t want to, I have forgotten, along with perhaps nothing will bite me. I also had this type of selective approach, until in Thailand I fell ill with Dengue. You can also try local remedies that happen to be often according to insect repellent ingredients (for example lemon eucalyptus oil or ordinary oil) and are also equally effective.
Warning! Remember that in tropical countries in which you use UV filters, the repellent is applied to your skin layer after first protecting it with sunscreen.
2. Cover the body
There are numerous guides that counsel you to cover up inside the tropics from top to bottom, i.e. long trousers, long sleeves, socks, and high boots. And if a person looks at a local, eg in Thailand, you’ll actually note that even in 30 degrees they wear jeans and blouses with long sleeves. In part, it can be a habit to high temperatures, and partly protection against mosquitoes. However, I am conscious if we really do not go on the jungle or safari, only to get a holiday vacation to warm countries, everybody wants to take selling point of this heat and sun, and walking in jeans will be the last thing he wishes for. I have this sort of patent correctly that I wear, one example is, long thin dresses or thin loose pants that cover the epidermis, however they are still airy. I put using a tunic or kimono in my shoulders, so I tend not to feel covered from head to feet,
Warning! When traveling more survivalowych it really is worth considering buying clothing factory impregnated insecticide, like permethrin, means a pace that features a deterrent influence on various types of insects, including: chamomiles, ticks, gnats and sand fleas.
3. Prepare your accommodation
Checking the bedroom before dropping off to sleep is very important. First of the, have a look with the tightness of windows and doors, check if your safety nets have holes and take all mosquitoes in the room. I definitely recommend you end up picking rooms with air cooling, as it is an all natural barrier that runs over insects. If you usually do not have air con, it truly is necessary to decide on a place having a mosquito net, but take care – be sure there are no holes, because in several hostels or hotels unfortunately mosquito nets in the beds leave much to become desired. Traveling in Southeast Asia to less western world, including Laos or Cambodia, I had my own, personal mosquito net during my backpack (PLN 15 on Allegro), which saved me many times through the bloodthirsty attacks of mosquitoes.
4. The time of waking time matters
The mosquito transmitting diseases will not be attacked only at dawn possibly at dusk. Different types of these carry different pathogens on the course of an circular day, so realizing we are exposed all the time can be an important principle which should mobilize us to continually protect ourselves. During the afternoon, they nourish themselves on mosquitoes carrying dengue, chikungunya fever, zika and yellow fever. However, at nighttime, it is likely that a mosquito infesting malaria, Japanese encephalitis and fever from the western Nile is increased.
5. Not just mosquitoes
Let’s also disprove the myth that only mosquitoes threaten us. Insects carrying dangerous diseases less difficult more and there’s nothing to panic, but be aware that this application in the above principles protects us resistant to the entire spectrum of insects. In a tropical climate you will discover often sandworms (extremely irritating micro-openings which might be difficult to determine and which don’t sound like a mosquito) – leishmaniasis carriers, onchocercosis flies, Chrysops where loas may develop and known tusks tse carrying an African coma. In a word – absolutely nothing is to be resistant to!
Exotic journeys also involve possible connection with unfamiliar animal species living in close proximity to humans, e.g. monkeys in Indonesia or India. Our first instinct will be the desire to have a look at them closely, please take a photo, etc. However, you need to be careful, because they may be still wild animals, often carriers of diseases for example rabies. Bats are carriers of bats, as an example in caves. What’s more, the prospect of being bitten with a dog or cat is increased, and these are generally not lacking, by way of example in Thailand – you will find whole hordes ones. It is worth for getting vaccinated on rabies, and in experience of animals be restrained.
If you happen to be open areas and all-around nature, make sure to watch out for snakes, scorpions and spiders. Animals which might be practically non-existent in Poland, so we’re not utilized to taking them into account in your way of thinking.
RULES YOU NEED TO REMEMBER
1. Avoid contact
The simplest rule – keep away from unfamiliar animals. Do not try to touch the monkeys and don’t use their food (it irritates them significantly and can make them aggressively). The same with random dogs or cats, even domesticated ones. In poorly western world, the method of animals is different than inside the West, no person vaccinates them and won’t control them for the vet, and nearly all of them usually are not.
2. Wear full footwear
Flip-flops for just a walk to your jungle? No thanks! When choosing for the jungle, forest or rural areas, make sure you wear full footwear, since it will best protect you from possible bites of animals living within the grass and undergrowth. Always check your shoes before wearing them and thoroughly shake them off. It is challenging to imagine just how much it can easily fit into one shoe, by way of example to my trainer left about the terrace in Thailand, four frogs happen to be packed! You do not discover how difficult it had been to remove them from him!
3. Protect the youngest
If you’re traveling with children, don’t forget that through their growth they’re an easy target for animals including dogs or cats, rendering them extremely liable to possible experience of their saliva or bite. Especially that children usually do not have barriers in themselves and so are more likely to cling to animals.
4. Prepare for snorkeling
If you’ve plans to snorkeling, get special rubber footwear that protects you stepping on poisonous sea animals. Here you don’t have to look far – eg in Croatia there a variety of sea urchins, whose sting is quite painful and poisonous. And what’s new within the warm waters of Australia.
Often, what we cannot see would be the most dangerous, hence one from the most recommended may be the tetanus vaccine, which can be found inside the soil. It’s easy to obtain infected with it, because you simply need a smaller abrasion or scratch in your feet (that is certainly easy to do), which in combination using the outdoor shoes we use on holidays, exposes us to potential contagion. The best protection is unquestionably wearing covered shoes.
RULES YOU NEED TO REMEMBER
1. Try not to walk barefoot
After all, including the thinnest flaps have the ability to protect against infection. Also avoid places with contaminated soil or sand.
2. Watch in places you go
Avoid also places with higher grass, bushes, venturing in the forest at night.
3. Do not please take a bath in unmarked places
It is usually good to stop swimming or wading in water reservoirs or shallow ponds, concerning may also be parasites within them.
WHAT ELSE?
At the finish I will include a few important rules which will certainly help you in small , large trips:
1. FLIGHTS AND JET LAG
After reaching the brand new place, have time to acclimatize and find used to, by way of example, high temperatures or alterations in altitude. Visiting and exploring having a lot of tiredness and shock with the organism resulting from adjustments to time and climate zones – is a straightforward step to its weakening, and therefore greater the likelihood of disease.
2. SUN PROTECTION
In a hot and tropical climate remember regarding the proper irrigation on the body and necessarily about sunscreen. Do not underestimate sunshine, as the closer towards the equator, the stronger it really is and tans us faster and harder. And against this sort of sun we’re also protected only by quite high filters (minimum 30 SPF) and necessarily a headgear! It isn’t about a nice tan, but about avoiding sun shocks, strokes and skin melanoma.
3. HUMAN FACTOR
A factor that is certainly very important and and that is often underestimated. When traveling, it happens to have sick and in many cases go on the hospital. In addition to good and proven insurance, which is surely an absolute basis, whether it’s a short holiday to Europe or possibly a trip to your tropics – you additionally need to have eyes across the head from the context of medical facilities. In poorly civilized world, the degree of sterility and professionalism of personnel may deviate from Western standards, making a tourist chance contracting Hepatitis B or HIV / AIDS while taking IV drip or intravenous medications. So if you employ a choice (I’m not discussing extreme cases of life and death, when any guidance is already all), contemplate it five times in the event the place you located meets the standards of cleanliness.
This also refers to casual sexual encounters – forever use condoms and don’t forget that in developing countries the danger of contracting STDs and HIV / AIDS is significantly higher than in Europe.
The same is applicable to the performance of cosmetic treatments or tattooing – if you’ve got to, select a reputable place, given it will reduce the possibilities of contracting, amongst others WZW B and C.
4. PLAN WITH YOUR HEAD!
I understand that when the journey of your journey comes, the rest goes to your background, but be mindful in all in this. The world is not going to escape us, and health may, so choose carefully the places you need to visit. Check the pages of embassies that supply current info on eg natural cadastre, as well since the WHO website, which updates information around the epidemic and the increased likelihood of infection, eg dengue inside a given region. If you don’t have to, usually do not push yourself into dangerous places or wait for an threat to feed. None of people is untouchable, but biggest situations may be avoided. On the one hand, adventure is surely an adventure, but for the other – for the end of waking time what is vital is health insurance safety. Without this, each trip loses its flavor.