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BEING WELL ON THE ROADFirst aid, health issues & basic hygieneby Katie Cooney
Organizing your own personal First Aid kit to carry on your journey may be the most important things that you take on your trip. When abroad simply drug store items may not be as readily available as they are at home. Remember you may be your only source for medical supplies, so take what you may need. Consult your personal physician or gynecologist for their first aid recommendations when traveling outside of the United States. The basic items I always carry, on my travels, are listed below. Each woman's first aid kit may vary depending upon her own special needs. Although the first aid list below may seem extensive, remember it is better to bring it with you in case of an emergency, rather than run the risk of not having it at all. THE FIRST AID CHECK LIST
Many of the items that were packaged in glass bottle or large hard plastic containers, I transferred to small plastic travel bottles. Clearly labeling each bottle of the contents and carrying the dosage directions in my first aid kit. All of these items I placed into a Zip Lock Freezer bags and discarded the packaging in most cases. Do not discard packaged instructions if these are needed to ascertain quantity of medicine to be taken and any side effects that may concur. Pack the cotton balls and Q tips, in a separate plastic zip lock bag and put within the larger Zip Lock bag. You may need two large zip lock bags to fit everything. First Aid Traveling TipsEchinacea/Goldseal This natural antibiotic can be found in the Health Food store. Taken in liquid or capsule form, a daily dose of this may help you fight off infection and sickness. Acidophilus Acidophilus, taken in capsule form, will help build up the flora in the intestinal tract. Having more floras in the intestinal tract will help you fight off sickness and help if you have diarrhea. Also if you are taking an antibiotic, the acidophilus will help to rebuild the flora in your intestinal tract which is lessened from the antibiotic. Rehydration Formula In case of severe water loss, due to extended periods of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, fluids must be taken to avoid dehydration. Packages of rehydration solution may be purchased and mixed with water or use can use this formula for a rehydration solution. Quart
of Water (Boiled or Bottled) Cold Feet Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper in Socks. A Little Cool Relief Damp bandanas give great relief from stifling hot days and drenching humidity. Soak the bandana in water, cool water if possible, then tie loosely around the neck. Dampen the wrist area, this is a natural cooling spot on the body as well. Keeping the damp bandana around the neck will help cool you down and give some relief from the hot and humid temperatures. Rewet the bandana, as it becomes dry throughout the day. It really is amazing how much more comfortable you will be with a wet bandana around your neck. Wear A Hat Wear a hat when exposed to the sun. Sunburns on the scalp can be extremely painful. Covering your head will also help you stay cooler in hot temperatures and avoid sunstroke. Tiger Balm Tiger balm, sold in Health Food Stores and throughout Asia, is a great medicinal ointment. If you suffer from the itch of mosquito bites, then Tiger Balm will give you great relief when applied upon the bite. Used for a variety of topical uses. Tiger Balm works well on muscle aches and pains. Tiger balm is available in either a white or orange balm. Suntan Lotion Protecting yourself from sunburn with suntan lotion will protect you from unwanted pain and discomfort. Carrying a backpack with a sunburned back or shoulders will be darn right painful. Be sure to get a suntan lotion with at least a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of15. Travel First Aid Book The book, The Pocket Doctor by Stephen Bezruchka, M.D., is a great first aid companion. The book is compact and full of useful and helpful medical advice while traveling. I highly recommend carrying a medical resource book such as this while traveling. HEALTH ISSUES
1.The U.S. Center for Disease Control - This agency located in Washington, D.C. Atlanta, Georgia will be able to inform you of the vaccinations and inoculations you will need for the countries in which you desire to go. Please call (404)332-4559 for more information or contact their website at www.cdc.gov Diseases that were once only known in history books, now pop up all over the world such as; TB, the bubonic plague, and cholera. Call the Center for Disease Control at lease three to four months prior to your leaving. This will give you plenty of time to get the information, make an appointment and get properl vaccinated. Check out these other travel health related websites as well. - World Health Organization at
www.who.ch 2.Before you travel get a physical examination by your medical doctor or gynecologist. Get your annual Pap smear if you haven't had one in the past year. Make sure you are in good physical health and are not anemic or have medical problems that can be taken care of before you go. It's always better to be certain that you are in great shape before you leave, than try to seek medical care outside of the country. 3.Make a dental appointment and get a check up. Have any dental work done before you leave. 4.If you are not feeling well after you return home schedule another check up with your medical doctor or gynecologist for a work-up. You may have caught a little bug and taking care of it sooner than later will only be advantageous. 5.Diabetes - Consult with your personal physician as to how you will be able to receive insulin abroad and any other needs you may have. FEMININE NEEDSFemale travelers must also pack the supplies needed for menstruation. Remember not all countries in the world carry the almost unlimited selection of tampons, pads, pantyliners, deodorized, and not deodorized items as we do. If you are able to find any feminine hygiene items abroad, they can be very expensive. If you need more supplies when abroad, you may be able to find more tampons and pads in large hotels that cater to foreign tourists or Chemist shops (pharmacies/drug stores). Plan ahead and pack what you will need. Menstruating Whether you use pads or tampons, calculate how many you use during your normal menstruation then multiply that by how many months you will be gone. Put another week’s worth of pads or tampons in, just in case you have a heavier period one month. After you have calculated what you need and have the supply, put them into large Zip Lock Freezer bags and carry this way. Do not keep the pads or tampons in the cardboard boxes, they are hard to pack and are bulky. Keep the tampon pamphlet, on the warning signs of Toxic Shock Syndrome, in with your tampon supply. Panty Liners Panty liners work well when you know you will not be able to wash your underwear for while and still want to feel fresh, have a light period, or have discharge from a yeast infection. Panty liners fit the bill for a lot of uses. Premenstrual Syndrome Suffering from premenstrual cramps, bloating, headaches, tender breasts, and emotional sensitivity can put a real damper on your trip. Remember to treat yourself with great care and bring along any medications that will help you through that time. Plan a more relaxed couple of days when you get your period, instead of those days being spent traveling on buses or trains. You know what you can handle best during that time. Birth Control Pills Calculate the number of months you will be away and take as many months as you plan on being abroad, plus one extra package just in case you loose one or extend your travels. This is another item that will be difficult or impossible to find outside of industrialized countries. Yeast Infections Some women unfortunately seem to more prone to yeast infections, if this is you plan on bringing any medication for treating the infection with you. If you are traveling to countries where it is hot and humid you may contract a yeast infection. Wearing loose fitted clothing and cotton underwear while traveling in hot humid climates will also reduce you chances of contracting a yeast infection. Taking antibiotics for a intestinal bug, may make you more susceptible to contracting a yeast infection. I recommend taking along Monistat for yeast infections. Also eating yogurt and oral acidophilus capsules may also help. Common symptoms of a yeast infection include, a creamy milky vaginal discharge, vaginal burning, and itching. Bladder Infection Some women tend to have more bladder infections than others. If this is you then bring or do what works for you when a bladder infection arises. Drinking cranberry juices seem to help reduce the chances of contracting a bladder infection and curing the infection once you have it. Again, where cotton underwear and loose fitting pants or skirts while in hot and humid climates. Consult with you gynecologist as to how to prevent yeast and bladder infections and how to treat them once you have contracted them. GETTING SICK AND SO FAR AWAY FROM HOME
Diarrhea Depending upon where you go, how careful you are about food and drink and how sensitive your own body is, you may develop diarrhea from the change in food, water, and lack of initial sleep from jet lag. If you are traveling in Europe you will most likely become regular again and the diarrhea will only be temporary. If you are traveling in Asia or Africa and develop diarrhea you may have contracted a little bug or parasite from the water or food. If the diarrhea persists in any country, you should seek out medical advise. Locate an international clinic, with English speaking doctors, which will administer a stool test. After the sample is examined the clinician will be better able to help you figure out what you have and prescribe medication that will alleviate your symptoms. If you are having chronic diarrhea it is important to go to a clinic. You are losing water from your body and the necessary vitamins and minerals from your food are not being absorbed into your system. If there is blood in your stools or diarrhea, seek medical assistance immediately. Diarrhea will cause you to lose weight, feel irritable, have low energy, and all around not feel too great. Go see what's going on and take care of your body. Limit your use anti-diarrhea medications for any extended amount of time. Usually when you have diarrhea the organism is trying to get out of your body. You may become sicker if you use anti-diarrhea medications. The medication will stop the bacteria from passing through your system and will go back into your body and continue to make you sick if not sicker. Use good sense when medicating yourself. Don't over medicate yourself. Always seek medical assistance if your health condition remains the same or gets worse. Fever If you have a fever and it continues to persist go seek medical advise. You may have a small parasite and your body is fighting off the bug. Remember to take aspirin or if you cannot take aspirin, take non-aspirin substitute products, that will get your fever down. A fever is a clear sign that something is not right in your body, get medical help. Cuts and Scrapes Keep cuts or scrapes well covered with fresh loose fitting gauze bandages and dressings. Depending upon where you go, dirt or water may infect such surface skin wounds. Applying a topical antibiotic cream will also help reduce the chance of infection. Clean cuts and scraps after bathing with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, so that any germs in the bath water will not infect the cut. Where To Get Medical Help If you have medical insurance call your health insurance company and ask them to inform you of the medical facilities they are affiliated with outside of the U.S.A. Some medical insurance companies have hospitals that they know of and recommend outside of the U.S.A. Thumb through your guidebook, as to what medical clinics are available should you become sick in the region you plan on traveling in. Many guidebooks list different clinics in which you can find medical assistance. I found the International Clinic I used in Katmandu, Nepal in the Lonely Planet Traveler's guidebook. Keep all of the administrative medical papers and receipts for payment you had to make out of your own pocket. Many health insurance companies will reimburse you for the medical costs you incurred while on your trip, depending upon your coverage and deductible. You must have the appropriate paperwork if you want to be reimbursed, so take it all with you. WATER
How to Avoid Getting Sick from Water 1.Buy bottled water with safety seal intact. If the seal looks broken do not buy the water. In some countries young children collect used bottles and caps, only to refill them with tap water and sell them to unknowing tourists. Cutting the bottle with a knife when you are finished makes the bottle no longer useful in the recycling and selling of bad water. 2.Boil tap water for at least 10 minutes in countries where you know there are problems such as giardia and other microorganisms. Boil the water in Asian and African countries as a rule and let it cool before you drink it. 3. Water pump - A great resource if you cannot boil water, but know you shouldn't be drinking from the tap or water source. In using a water pump you cut down your chances of catching a bug, not 100% fool proof, but close almost 99%. I carry the small water pump made by the PUR water filter company, just in case of an emergency or unsure of the water purity. 4.Iodine drops or tablets - Placing the iodine drops or tablets into the water and then waiting for the drops to kill off any microorganisms is another way to prepare water for safe drinking and using. Good idea to carry a bottle of liquid or tablet iodine in your first aid kit. 5.Showers, brushing teeth, and cleaning up - When taking a shower don't swallow any water that gets into your mouth. When brushing your teeth use bottled water or treated water (boiled, pumped, or iodinated water). After you have showered and if you have a cut wash it off with alcohol or some antiseptic liquid or cream to avoid infection. MEDIC ALERT BRACELETSpecial needs such as diabetes, heart problems, allergies to foods or medications, or other medical concerns should be stated on a Medic Alert bracelet when out of the country. When you purchase the bracelet you are put into a computer system and the number on your bracelet correlates to a file on your medical situation. Your personal medical needs are accessible to medical staff all over the world by calling the toll free number on the identification bracelet. After joining the Medic Alert Foundation you will be given a stainless steel bracelet with your number and medical information on the back and a small piece of paper with your specific information, persons to notify and medical numbers to call in emergency. Wear the bracelet and carry the Medic Alert card in your money belt. To Contact the Medic Alert Foundation, Please Call Medic Alert Foundation Turlock, California 95381-1009 New & Existing Members Call: 1-800-432-5378 WASH THOSE HANDS!Stay healthy and avoid eye infections, colds, and other sickness in two simple behavioral steps. First, avoid touching any part of your face with your hands. When traveling you are touching areas with your hands that many, many people touch. Germs are left behind and may find their way onto your hands. Germs quickly spread from one person to the next by the way of hands. Begin a new habit of being more sensitive to not touching your face with your hands. Secondly, wash your hands more frequently. Not only wash your hands before you eat, before you go to the bathroom, after you go to the bathroom, and a couple more times a day. Make it a habit that you wash your hands before you sleep and after long bus and train rides. Many germs are carried on the hands and simply by washing them takes most of them down the drain and not down into your immune system. You will stay healthier if you can incorporate these two simply gestures avoid touching your face, and washing your hands more frequently. Simple and easy to do once you make it a habit and the results are terrific, staying healthy when traveling! Sounds good to me! Syringes & IV units Unfortunately, with the rise in infectious diseases such as; Hepatitis, HIV, and the AIDS Virus in our world and particularly in developing nations I recommend traveling with your own "sterile pack". A "sterile pack" consists of sterile syringes, IV units, and IV tubing. When I left for Africa, I was advised to carry such items in the case of a medical emergency. Now I carry my "sterile pack" when traveling abroad, to be assured I will have sterile, clean supplies if needed. Sadly, the AIDS virus, continues to grow. This debilitating and presently terminal disease may be contracted, through needles that have not been sterilized. In some countries, medical supplies are not plentiful and it is not uncommon to reuse needles in medical facilities. In case of an emergency, when you need an injection or possibly an IV, then you will be reassured you have your own "sterile pack". Excerpts from Katie’s soon to be published book, Window on the World, Straightforward Advice for Today’s Woman Traveler. To contact the author - katiecooney@sprynet.com Photographer – Katie Cooney -Updated 7-2-99- |
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TM
Staying
healthy on your journey will be a number one priority. No one enjoys being sick at home and I
guarantee you'll like it even less abroad. Practicing good hygiene while abroad will drastically cut your chances
for contracting infections and sickness. 
Before
you go on your trip there are several health issues you need to research, look
into, and check off your pre-departure list. 
Every
traveler hopes that they don't become sick while on their trip. In some countries contracting an intestinal
bug is just part of the adventure, hardly avoidable. Once again make sure you are in good physical health before you
leave, this will help you fight off the usual germs that are floating around. It's almost inevitable that you will catch a
little cold or have diarrhea, but how to deal with it once you have it is the
key.
Drinking
water that has not been properly treated to purify it of any microorganisms
will be the quickest way to contract an intestinal bug. Now, don't be paranoid, just use your head
and be smart. There are little
microorganisms in the water you drink now that do not effect your system
because you are used to them.