8 Absolutely Vital Steps to Healthy Travel Abroad | Drinking Water

By KalynnAmadio
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Traveling out of the country can be an exciting adventure. A more exotic destination means more potential for risk to your health and difficulty finding emergency 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. Have current immunizations.

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. Brush your teeth with bottled 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.

Locally grown foods, like the water, can carry diseases that cause illness to a traveler. Dr. Rosenfeld advises removing the skin from raw vegetables and fruits before eating, while the CDC suggests not purchasing food from street vendors. Only eat food that has been fully cooked.

4. Take extra medication with you.

Your vacation should be fun. The anxiety you would undoubtedly feel by running out of necessary prescription medication could ruin good memories of the trip. Do yourself a favor and avoid that anxiety by packing extra medication beyond the number of days you plan to be away. Murphy's Law exists; negate it by being 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. Purchase travel insurance.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could see into the future? But because we can't, buy a cushion of comfort in the form of travel insurance. The more expensive the trip, the more important this investment could be.

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.

Make sure you pack sunscreen and insect repellent. Repellent should include DEET in a 20-50% concentration which is acceptable for children over 2 months and adults according to the CDC. Apply your sunscreen first then spray the repellent on your body and clothing. Wear long sleeves and pants when possible to avoid mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. Mosquitoes that transmit malaria are more active at dusk and again at dawn. Those that bite during the day tend to carry 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.

So be prepared and travel healthy. Enjoy your vacation with no anxiety because you know you've already prepared for the worst. And of course, if you are prepared, the worst will never happen.

About the Author

Kalynn Amadio is going to S. 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 lifestyle.

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