HEALTH ADVICE FOR TRAVELLERS

DOH HomeHealth Advice For Travellers

Health Risks Around the World and how to avoid them Travelling round the world always brings with it some risk to health. However, by taking certain – often simple – steps, you can minimise your exposure to almost every major health hazard. BE SAFE OUT OF DOORS Take Care on the Roads Take Care in the Sun Hazardous Sports and Diving Avoid Insect and Animal Bites ‘No Go’ Areas Take Care in Water Day Trips   Personal Hygiene Eat and Drink... Safely Wherever you are in the world, be careful what you eat and drink. Food and water may be contaminated in a variety of ways – and that includes the water in swimming pools, lakes, rivers and the sea, so try not to swallow water when you are bathing. Travellers’ diarrhoea is very common, especially in hot countries. Travellers’ diarrhoea, as well as diseases such as cholera, typhoid and hepatitis A can all be caught from contaminated food and water. BUT THEY CAN ALSO LARGELY BE AVOIDED BY SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS: Personal Hygiene Always wash your hands after going to the lavatory, before handling food and before eating. If you have any doubts about the water available for drinking, washing food or cleaning teeth, boil it, sterilise it with disinfectant tablets or use bottled water - preferably carbonated with gas - in sealed containers. Avoid ice unless you are sure it is made from treated and chlorinated water. This includes ice used to keep food cool as well as ice in drinks. It is usually safe to drink hot tea or coffee, wine, beer, carbonated water and soft drinks, and packaged or bottled fruit juices. Eat freshly cooked food which is thoroughly cooked and still piping hot. Avoid food which has been kept warm. Avoid uncooked food, unless you can peel or shell it yourself. Avoid food likely to have been exposed to flies. Avoid ice cream from unreliable sources, such as kiosks or itinerant traders. Avoid - or boil - unpasteurised milk. Fish and shellfish can be suspect in some countries. Uncooked shellfish, such as oysters, are a particular hazard. Be Safe Out of Doors TAKE CARE IN THE SUN Many people travel from this country in search of the sun. The sun should be enjoyed, but overexposure can cause sunburn, leading to premature skin ageing and an increased risk of skin cancer. It is the ultraviolet rays which cause this; even in the UK they can damage your skin, and UV is much more powerful the nearer the equator you go. Never underestimate how ill careless exposure to the sun can make you – there is no excuse for not protecting your children properly. If you want to avoid trouble – take care not to burn. It is particularly important to care for your children, and babies should not be placed in direct sunlight at all. Stay out of the sun for at least 2 hours around midday, use what shade there is at other times, and cover up with a wide brimmed hat, and tightly woven but loose clothing. Protective creams suitable for your skin type can help protect unavoidably exposed parts of the body. Wear sunglasses which filter UV to protect your eyes. A separate risk of overexposure to the sun is sunstroke or heatstroke, caused simply by overheating. Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours, and make sure you drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids to balance the loss of body fluid through perspiration. What you drink must be safe – either soft drinks from sealed cans or bottles, or water which has been boiled. Never underestimate how ill careless exposure to the sun can make you – there is no excuse for not protecting your children properly. AVOID INSECT AND ANIMAL BITES Avoid insect and animal bites, tick borne diseases such as tick borne encephalitis and borreliosis (Lymes disease) are prevalent in temperate climates. It is therefore not only in tropical wooded areas one needs to cover legs and arms. Use insect-repellent preparations. Click here for more details on protection against malaria. Animal bites can set up infections which can be serious and sometimes fatal. BE WARY OF EVEN APPARENTLY TAME ANIMALS. Click here for details on rabies. TAKE CARE IN WATER Do not go swimming alone. Bathing will cool you but remember that fatal accidents can happen very easily and in the most unexpected conditions. Adults should watch each other for signs of trouble when in the water. Children should always be supervised by an adult who can swim well. Young children should never be left unattended near a stretch of water, even a paddling pool. If you are going to dive into water, make sure that it is deep enough for you to do so safely. Each year, many people are permanently paralysed as a result of injuries sustained from diving into shallow water. TAKE CARE ON THE ROADS Traffic accidents are the major cause of death among travellers. Whether driver or pedestrian, always check on local traffic regulations. If you are in a car, always wear seat belts. If on a motor or pedal bike, always wear a helmet and put children in a child restraint. If you hire a car or a bike, check its condition and the insurance cover. And never drink and drive. HAZARDOUS SPORTS AND DIVING If you are going to take part in potentially hazardous sports such as skiing, canoeing or mountaineering, follow all the relevant safety guidance; make sure that there are adequate emergency medical facilities on hand; and check that you have medical insurance which covers you fully in the event of any accident. Divers should allow 24 hours between their last dive and a flight. NO GO’ AREAS In many countries, there are areas which are unsafe for travellers to visit because of the risk of violence. For guidance and information, please use the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice to Travellers telephone line: 020 7008 0232. DAY TRIPS Even if you are only going on a day trip to another country, accidents can happen. So please make sure you have adequate travel insurance, and a completed Form E111 if you are visiting a country in the European Economic Area.

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Published by the Department of Health
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This page last updated 06 March 2002