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With christmas under way, many will begin traveling not just over the river and thru the woods, but over oceans and borders. Actually, according to the World Health Organization, a lot more than 900 million people all over the globe travel internationally each year.
Travel this extensive exposes many people to some great number of health problems therefore it is important to take the proper precautions to ensure your safety on your travels.
Follow these 15 international travel tips to reduce health problems on your trip:
- Update all appropriate immunizations. Make sure you have been immunized for both Hepatitis A (transmitted via contaminated water and food) and Hepatitis B (transmitted via blood and body fluids).
- Check to ascertain if you are traveling to a region that requires a Yellow Fever vaccine.
- Take your malaria pills in case your travel provider recommends prophylaxis medicine.
- Ask your travel medicine provider to supply you with medicine for self-treatment of traveler’s diarrhea.
- Protect yourself from typhoid fever by receiving a pack of four pills or a shot.
- Get your yearly flu immunization.
- Seek a scheduled appointment having a travel medicine provider a minumum of one month prior to travel in case you require more than one booster shot (this applies to students as well.)
- Consider how you can obtain health care while abroad. Most international travelers obtain medical evacuation insurance for emergencies.
- Be cautious around all animals. Do not pet animals. One can’t be certain animals do not have rabies.
- Take along insect repellant (insect repellents must have DEET to be effective against ticks.)
- Always travel with hand sanitizer or wipes, sunscreen along with a small emergency first aid kit.
- Protect your personal security. Always make sure at least one person knows where you stand.
- Alert your medical provider to the recent travel overseas should you become ill.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that motor vehicle crashes would be the number one reason for death of healthy U.S. citizens in foreign countries. Select safe transportation/vehicles when in a foreign country.
- Finally, enjoy experiencing other cultures and lifestyles but respect local customs in the manner you dress, behave at religious sites and display affection.
These are just a handful of many tips that might be relevant for international travelers. For additional recommendations and resources, click here.
