The widespread availability of quick and relatively inexpensive transportation makes modern travel possible…but humans aren’t the only ones taking advantage!
Modern travel really is incredible. Think about it. You can literally fly from one side of the world to the other in a day! A week’s vacation can take you practically anywhere…meeting new people….experiencing new places and cultures. But we don’t travel in a bubble. We take with us countless bacteria, viruses, yeast, and parasites that use us as hosts.
That means that diseases can reach more places…infect more people…and spread faster than they ever have before. And, while it isn’t likely that we’ll see a virus induced zombie apocalypse anytime soon, there is a very real potential for serious public health impacts…worldwide.
So, how does this affect you as a traveller? How do you help keep yourself healthy on the road?
Educate yourself about health issues
Every region has its own health issues and concerns. As a traveller it’s important to educate yourself about what risks you face before you travel. Vaccinations are recommended prior to travel in some areas…others it is advisable to take medication during your trip to help prevent illness. Learn about these recommendations in advance and discuss the risks with your doctor to make the best decisions for yourself. You can learn about travel recommendations from the Center for Disease Control’s travel website. There are also special travel clinics that can give you plenty of information about any health risks you may face during your trip.
Travel with a stocked first aid kit
Depending on where you’re headed, there may not be a convenient Walmart to pick up cold medications if you come down with something during your travels. Make sure that you travel with a well-stocked first aid kit, including common medications that you might need. Your doctor likely has recommendations on what types of things to include in a travel first aid kit, so be sure to ask them for ideas of what you should pack.
Practice good general hygiene
Many of the microorganisms that cause disease are spread through direct contact. Handshakes…door knobs…pens…grocery carts…. We touch hundreds…thousands of items every single day. A large portion of them are community items that are touched by tons of other people every day as well. And then we eat…or wipe our eyes….
One of the most important things you can do to help prevent getting sick is to wash your hands regularly. Correctly. A quick rinse isn’t going to cut it. Washing your hands the right way is a bit of an art form and one we’re not usually taught. Check out this resource for more information on how to wash your hands.
Not all places have easy access to soap and running water. What to do then? Hand sanitizer works better than nothing. Just make sure to use plenty, spread it everywhere on your hands, and give it plenty of contact time to work.
In addition to hand washing, take care to prevent touching your face and consider decreasing your direct contact with other people (shaking hands, hugging, etc) in certain situations.
Don’t overlook food and drink as a source of infection as well. Educate yourself prior to travel as to what is safe to eat and drink in the area you’re visiting.
Don’t travel when you’re sick
It should be common sense, but, if you’re sick, don’t go out in public and don’t travel. Seek out medical attention if it’s warranted…and then stay in and get well! Remember, it’s not just about you…it’s about all the other people you come in contact with…including those individuals whose immune systems might not be able to fight off sickness or communities that lack sufficient medical resources to respond to an outbreak of disease.
Keep up to date with the latest information
Keep yourself informed from reputable sources. Health and medical situations can (and do!) change rapidly. Make sure you’re up to date with the latest information. However, it’s important to get that information from reputable sources. Places like the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization are good resources to check out.
Get travel insurance
It’s always a good idea to get travel insurance. It can literally be a life-saver, from providing medical coverage if you get sick or injured on your trip…and even get you home if something is really serious. Some policies also offer refunds on your trip expenses if you have to cancel because of health issues or disease outbreaks. Each policy is different, though, so make sure you read it closely! (For more reasons why travel insurance is important, check out this blog post.)
With a little planning and education, you can help keep yourself (and others) healthy during travel!
