Tips To Avoid Falling Ill on Your Travels

If there is one piece of advice that all travellers will give about falling ill on your travels it is this: DON'T. No one wants their plans ruined by a catastrophic cold, a violent virus or a terrible tummy bug, but gap year travellers especially shudder to think about taking care of themselves in an unknown environment while everyone else is out having fun. Unfortunately, illness can strike anyone at any time, so do everything you can to avoid falling ill on your travels and pack a medical kit just in case. If you feel yourself falling ill, make sure to monitor your health closely and seek medical help when you need it. Getting yourself checked up and checked out is the best way to get back on your feet!

Immunise Yourself Against Disease

All prospective gap year travellers should attend their local travel clinic or speak to their GP about travel vaccinations. Discuss your immunisation needs for diseases such as:

• Cholera
• Diphtheria
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Japanese encephalitis
• Malaria
• Meningitis
• Polio
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever

Prepare a Medical Kit - Just In Case

A medical kit is a traveller's best friend. Even if you are in tip top shape before you leave home, you never know what wrong turn will have you reaching for your kit as you travel. Don't forget to include:

• Medical and immunisation certificates
• Prescription medicine and glasses or contact lenses
• Insurance papers and claims forms, including contact numbers
• Hand sanitizer and wipes
• Pain relievers
• Decongestants
• Antacids
• Wound and blister ointments
• Cough medicine
• Anti-diarrhoeal medicine
• Plasters and gauze
• Motion-sickness medication
• Digital thermometer
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Tissues
• Toilet paper

Avoid Breeding Grounds for Germs

Germs flourish in unsanitary conditions, so avoiding their breeding grounds is a great way to stay safe and healthy. Steer clear of:

• Sewage
• Rubbish
• Street food
• Tap water
• Ice cubes or chips
• Raw fruit and vegetables (they may have been rinsed in contaminated water)
• Raw or uncooked seafood
• Blood and/or syringes
• Faeces
• Local animals
• Local insects
• Stagnant or standing water

If You Do Fall Ill

Sometimes, even if you follow every instruction to the letter, an unlucky traveller will still fall ill. If you fall ill while abroad, remember to:

• Record your symptoms and when they first started.
• Check with other travellers about their health.
  • Could it be food poisoning?
  • Is a virus being passed around?
• Take your temperature at regular intervals.
• Break into your medical kit.
• Notify your supervisor or group leader.
• Ask to be taken to/visited by an English speaking nurse or doctor.
• If in doubt, call emergency services.

Visiting Medical Facilities Abroad

Many gap year travellers fear visiting medical facilities abroad, though their reasons for this are often unfounded. Before you panic about seeing a foreign doctor or nurse, remind yourself that:

• You have travel and medical insurance to cover events like this.
• You will be able to request English speaking personnel.
• You can ask your doctor, nurse or chemist to "translate" information such as:
  • Temperatures
  • Medical or chemical readings
  • The name of drugs with which you are unfamiliar
  • Technical or Latin names of diseases, conditions, etc.
• You can contact your Embassy or High Commission in the event of an emergency.
• Your family and friends want you to do whatever you can to come home in one piece.
• Visiting a doctor now will get you back out on the road much more quickly!

Falling ill on your travels is a scenario that any traveller would like to avoid. Discuss methods or protecting yourself and ways to treat common illnesses with your GP and don't leave home without a medical kit. Other than that, cross you fingers and have fun!