Health on Holiday: Staying Safe While Traveling
Traveling is one of the most fulfilling experiences in life, allowing you to see spectacular sights, learn about different cultures, speak to interesting people and generally do things you’d never get the chance to if you stayed at home. However going to a new and unfamiliar place also comes with risks, and it’s up you to make sure you take the right precautions and stay protected. While you shouldn’t let these worries spoil your trip, it’s important to do what you can to look after yourself and family. Here are a few things to consider.
Get Vaccinated
Some of the most common travel vaccinations protect you against diptheria, polio, tetanus, Hepatitis A and cholera. Not every country will require vaccinations, and whether or not you need them will depend on things like your age, overall health and previous vaccinations. It’s important to consider whether or not you will need them, and do so in plenty of time as some need to be done weeks in advance. In some parts of the world, you can only gain access if you have certification proving that you’ve had certain vaccinations so in terms of travel health, this is a crucial one to get right.
Choose the Right Time of Year
If you’re going to a place in the world that’s higher risk for disease, then going at the right time of year could reduce your chances of catching anything. For example, the rainy season can cause dengue, leptospirosis and influenza to explode in the population so avoiding this time is a safe bet. Some countries will also have more mosquitos at different times of year, which can spread serious disease- malaria, zika virus, yellow fever and West Nile virus to name a few. While you will need to protect yourself in any country that has mosquitos, knowing which months to travel in can be useful.
Get Insured
Holiday insurance is absolutely essential when you’re traveling, if you end up falling ill and have to go to hospital you need to make sure you’re covered. It’s important to read the small print, make sure you know exactly what you are and aren’t protected against, and don’t just opt for the cheapest and lowest level of cover. If something were to happen, you will end up massively out of pocket paying for medical expenses. Even being insured, you still need to be careful. Be cautious trying extreme activities, watch your step when you’re out hiking. If you have an ongoing medical condition, be aware of this. If you were to fall, have a heart attack or generally fall ill, many countries have an air ambulance service to quickly get you to hospital. But of course, taking precautions where possible to not get ill or injured in the first place is better.
Check if the Foreign Office Say It’s Safe to Travel
Some countries in the world have much higher rates of crime, wars, terrorism or political instability. In general, it’s best to avoid these places where possible and choose somewhere else on your bucket list to travel to. The foreign office states which countries are best to be avoided for the time being.
