When taking a family holiday your thoughts are generally
consumed with whether you have enough travel plugs, and making sure the
children have packed their cases properly - not just their favorite cuddly toy
and their Superman costume. However, depending on where you’re traveling to
there may be some extra precautions and research involved before the too early
rush to the airport. Here are some things you may want to consider, that can
help to keep your family healthy on your travels.
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No one wants to be ill on holiday or confound to their hotel
room with a poorly child while still being able to hear all the joy and fun happening
on the beach outside. However, should it happen, it is best to be prepared. You
don’t want to be sat in a medical centre not knowing how to communicate your
child’s symptoms, worrying you have misplaced your insurance certificate, and
already trying to google research a malpractice legal team on the shocking wifi
facilities. Packing a first aid kit that includes diarrhoea relief, rehydration
sachets, paracetamol or Calpol, and antihistamines (for the potential insect
bites) will not only help put your mind at ease but could save you a worried
pharmacy visit or unwanted medical fees.
Get Your Shots
This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many
people don’t even think to check if they need shots before travelling.
Especially when travelling with children, it is important to make sure that
they are completely protected from any risk in the country you are travelling
to. Baseline shots such as “Measles, Mumps and Rubella” and “Diphtheria, Polio
and Tetanus” should be all up to date, and depending on where you are
travelling maybe even topped up or “boosted” before you go. In addition to
these, shots such as Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, and Cholera may be required.
If you are travelling to certain parts of Africa Anti-Malaria tablets and the TB and Rabies
vaccines will be essential. Parts of Central America and Southeast Asia will also
require you and your family to have a Yellow Fever Vaccine. Just having a quick
conversation with your GP or researching what shots are needed for your destination
of travel will clear up any questions or worries you have, but be sure to book
in for your shots at least ten days before you leave, or you may not be able to
travel. This is not an exhaustive list so please research before travelling, as
some countries will require a certificate to prove that you and your family
have been vaccinated before you are able to enter.
Foods To Avoid
This is an important one, as there are no cures for a case
of common food poisoning other than waiting for it to pass. There are also some
nastier cases like E Coli that will need medical attention and potentially a
case of antibiotics. Planning an itinerary of well-reviewed restaurants near
your accommodation could prevent illness from happening, as well as avoiding places
with visible of poor hygiene - such as flies settling on the food and gloves
not being worn when handling meat. Also, if drinking the tap water is commonly
avoided, being wary of foods like fruit and salads that may have been washed in
the water is wise. If you are staying in catered accommodation, you can
probably brush over this advice, as a high level of hygiene will be maintained,
and bottled water will be used for all food preparation.
Include Bottled Water
In Your Budget
When budgeting for spending money, everyone tends to think
about food, souvenirs and a fridge magnet for the parents back home. However,
one of the biggest costs when travelling is having to buy bottled water. Many
countries that you travel to will not have drinkable tap water. This means
buying a bottle of water every time you are thirsty and keeping hydrated -
especially if you are travelling somewhere hot - is imperative. Taking the time
to research how much a litre bottle of water would cost you, and budgeting for
an appropriate amount for you and your family each day will help your daily
spending money to be a more realistic amount. It also makes sure you won’t have
run out of money when a lovely fridge magnet or photo frame catches your eye.
Hopefully, this has helped your checklist grow in size, and
made you feel a lot more prepared for your upcoming travels. Everyone wants to
enjoy their holiday as much as possible, and the tips on this post will ensure
a nasty illness or funny tummy won’t ruin yours or your loved ones’ fun.
1 Comments
In my experience I believe water has contributed to more stomach upsets (5 days or more)than what bad food has. I would however avoid fish being sold on the side of the road if you are prone to stomach upsets. I've found Indonesia to be a place where you can pick up more stomach bugs than other countries in south East Asia. Change of climate and being in a confined space like a plane can contribute to getting viruses or catch a bad cold. So maybe a couple quiet days before and after a flight might help build your immunity and avoid picking up a virus early in your trip.
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