Travel Health A to Z: Blog about health precautions that you should take when traveling.
Eating Habits: Read this article to find out what you should and shouldn’t eat while traveling.
Food Safety Precautions: Take a look at this article to get some more tips on food safety when traveling.
Travel Safety Tips: Learn how to stay safe while traveling with these tips.
Traveling Abroad Soon? Be Sure to Check These Things!: If you are planning a trip abroad, make sure that you won’t be in the middle of an outbreak of something like cholera or hepatitis. Check out this link for more information.
Traveling by Plane? Here Are Some Tips: Read these tips for staying healthy while flying on an airplane.
Sometimes we need to talk about health issues that can affect you when you travel. This can be anything from a minor stomach upset to a major accident. For simplicity and brevity, we have divided it into sections A to Z. We do not always deal with every single letter of the alphabet as some issues are simply not relevant for travellers.
Recommendations for all travellers
Whether you travel or not, there are certain things that you should do to help you stay healthy:
• Make sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date
• Have a dental check-up before you go
• Have an eye test if you wear glasses or contact lenses
• Check your blood pressure
• Have a smear test if due (women)
These checks will help ensure that your health is good before you travel and may also identify any problems that require attention. It is much better to have these things sorted out before you travel than to get ill while abroad.
You can protect yourself from malaria by taking antimalarials. If you are traveling for longer than three months, or visiting several countries, you should consult a health professional about which antimalarial medication is best for you.
The risk of malaria exists in most areas of Africa and South America and certain parts of Asia. The risk is highest in sub-Saharan Africa and the Amazon region. It is very low or non-existent in some African countries, including Botswana, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya (except the coast), Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa (including Kruger Park) and Swaziland.
You should take measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes to help prevent malaria. Use insect repellents containing DEET on exposed skin (avoiding the eyes) and wear clothes that cover your arms and legs at night.
In general, you shouldn’t drink tap water anywhere in the world. Unless you know for sure it’s safe, don’t use tap water to brush your teeth or to even rinse your toothbrush. You should also avoid ice cubes, and if you do get them, let them melt first before drinking the liquid.
In addition to avoiding tap water, there are some other foods and beverages that can make you sick when you’re traveling internationally. When in doubt, stick to bottled or canned drinks and foods that are served hot. If you do want salad or fruit with your meal, be sure that it has been washed in purified water.
Whether it’s a quick trip to the supermarket or a leisurely vacation abroad, travel is a common activity for many people. But for those who have an illness or disability, travel can be more challenging. It may also raise concerns about how to manage your health and medications while away from home.
Fortunately there are ways to stay healthy on the road. Here are some tips:
Get prepared before you go
Check with your doctor
If you’re taking daily medications, get enough to last your entire trip. If you’re traveling overseas, find out how to get medical care where you’re going. Ask if you need any vaccinations or preventive medicines (for malaria, for example).
Ask your doctor for a letter that describes any medical conditions and the medicines you take. Keep a copy of the letter with you in case you need medical care while traveling. Bring extra copies of your prescriptions in case they’re lost or stolen during travel.
Use only brand-name medications as generics may be different in other countries and cause problems with treatment. Some countries require proof of a prescription before filling it, so make sure you have that information ready when traveling outside the United States.
Visit your dentist
If possible, schedule a dental checkup before leaving town on an extended trip
NEEDLE-STICK INJURIES
Every year about 50 million health care workers are exposed to sharp instruments, such as needles, scalpels, lancets and IV catheters. Needle stick injuries can transmit not only bacteria and viruses, but also prions – the cause of CJD (Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease).
The risk of acquiring a blood-borne infection after a needlestick injury depends on the type of injury, the type of exposure and the type of pathogen. The risk is higher if there is visible blood on the needle or if the needle is hollow. Some pathogens have a longer incubation time than others. For example, hepatitis B has an incubation period of 2–6 months while Hepatitis C has an incubation period of 7–10 weeks. The risk is also higher if you were stuck with a needle from someone who was infected (e.g. HIV or Hepatitis) than from someone who was not infected.
To prevent transmission through needlestick injuries, health care workers should follow these guidelines:
Risk reduction
Never recap needles manually
Dispose properly in puncture-resistant sharps containers
Never bend, break or remove needles from disposable syring
Black Bush is a brand of Irish whiskey. It is a blend of single malt and single grain whiskeys, which are aged in ex-bourbon barrels. The whiskey is aged for 21 years before bottling at 86 proof, or 43% alcohol by volume. The Black Bush bottle and label is green instead of the traditional brown of most Irish whiskeys.
Black Bush has been produced since the 1930s. It was named for the dark shade of its bottle, which was a change from other Irish whiskies at the time. Although it is part of Diageo’s Classic Malts Selection, it does not carry a distillery name.
Since 2001, Black Bush has been the best selling Irish whiskey in Ireland. In 2006, Diageo doubled production to meet growing global demand.
