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Safety and Health Issues for Travelers

© Jonathan Griffiths

This week we will take a break from the series of destination articles. Instead we will take a look at safety and health issues to be aware of when you travel overseas.

If you are traveling to developing countries, or to a destination "off-the-beaten-track", you may require some vaccinations. These often have to be initiated a few months before your departure date. So, be sure to check with you doctor in plenty of time. While the vaccinations can be expensive and, for those of us with a low tolerance for pain, traumatic, it is essential that you have them done. To find out more information, take a look at Travel Health Online. Here you will find detailed information about health issues arranged by destination. There is also a list of travel medicine providers around the world.

Even though you may have had the necessary vaccinations, there are still ceratin measures that you must take to ensure your health while traveling. Indeed, illnesses such as an upset stomach can spoil your trip. Learn how to prevent travel illnesses at The Moon Handbook site. This abridged online version of a travel health guidebook includes a wealth of information about staying healthy in developing countries. It not only provides a complete overview of the potential health problems that one should be aware of exists in these areas, but it also discusses preventative steps such as good nutrition, personal cleanliness, and mental attitude.

Perhaps the one health issue that most plagues travellers is diarrhea. A good site to look at if you want to learn more about this debilitating sickness is Understanding Diarrhea. This online paper includes information about what causes diarrhea and ways to prevent the sickness. Don't leave without reading it!

The Medical College of Wisconsin Health Link site includes general information about health-related travel issues. The periodical newsletter contains topical articles on issues such as altitude sickness, overcoming jet lag, and safety when driving abroad. Although it is an academic journal, articles are written in an easily accessible style.

A good diet is of critical importance in maintaining good health when you travel. Be sure to eat in clean environments. It is usually good to avoid fruit and vegetables that may have been washed in tap water. Ice made from tap water should also be avoided. Vegetarians may have an especially hard time when they travel overseas. Not being conversant in the local language often makes it hard to ensure that foods are vegetarian. Vegetarian travelers should check out the International Vegetarian Union site on Vegetarian Phrases in World Languages. Armed with the information that you will find there, being a vegetarian in a foreign country should not pose too many difficulties.