Travel – staying healthy while you’re away

Summer has finally arrived and with it comes Christmas, plenty of sunshine (hopefully!) and HOLIDAYS. This year many of us will be travelling again. Some of us may be out of practice and things may have changed, even at destinations you have been to before, so we thought a little refresher course on how to stay healthy whilst travelling in this day and age was timely. Read on for some handy tips on how to prepare, what to expect and what to take with you to ensure you and your family have the best possible trip and enjoy your well-earned break.

See your doctor, preferably 6-8 weeks before you go
Maybe we’re biased, but we think this is the number one tip of all our tips; if you do nothing else, do this one! GPs are travel health experts and, moreover, we are the experts on YOUR health and best placed to offer bespoke advice tailored to you and your needs. We can advise on vaccinations, medicines and lifestyle measures to take based on your destination and activities.

Heading to Bali? We know which vaccines you need, how to take food and water precautions, which mosquito-borne illnesses you need to prevent along with the medications you should have in your travel medical kit. Maybe you’re heading further north and hitting the slopes of North America? You might need to think about altitude sickness, pre-skiing fitness to reduce the risk of injury and avoiding hypothermia or frostbite. You’ll also want your flu and Covid vaccines to be up to date.

Even domestic travel isn’t without risks. A camping trip to the Northern Territory may necessitate more stringent mosquito-bite avoidance techniques (see our more detailed article in this edition) and a tetanus booster. Bushwalking in the Blue Mountains might prompt a discussion about preventing heat exhaustion, dehydration and tick bites. The list goes on!

Just as important as seeing us before you go, is seeing us after you get back if you become unwell. Fevers, diarrhoea, rashes and respiratory symptoms may all be signs of a travel-acquired condition that needs medical attention and treatment.

Research your destination
Obviously, if you are going somewhere new, you will have checked out all the best places to go and sights to see. It’s also worth checking out what the local health system is like and how you would access it if you needed to – this is especially important if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, are pregnant or are travelling with children.

Even destinations that are familiar to you may have new Covid entry requirements such as providing proof of vaccination or testing before and on arrival. Also worth checking is whether there are local mask mandates and what to do if you get Covid whilst there.

Get travel insurance (and check the fine print)
Not all travel insurance policies are created equal. If you need medical assistance overseas, costs can rack up into the thousands very quickly. Comprehensive travel insurance with adequate medical cover is a must, even in countries with so-called reciprocal arrangements – be sure to fully disclose any pre-existing conditions and also any high-risk activities (such as skiing) you plan to do to ensure you are covered. Read the fine print especially with regard to Covid.

Pack your travel medical kit
Your doctor can advise what you may need specific to you and your destination but at a minimum, consider packing:

• Enough prescription meds to cover your time away and a bit extra in case of unexpected delays. Keep them in their original packaging and in your carry-on bag in case your checked luggage goes missing. Take the prescription and/or a letter from your doctor. Take your own needles and syringes if your meds are injectable. Some prescription medicines may be illegal or restricted in some countries, check this before you go.
• Some supplies may not be readily available in some places so you may need to take enough to last the trip, e.g., nappies and infant formula, feminine hygiene products and condoms, to name a few.
• Sunscreen and insect repellent, see our article for which ones are best.
• A basic first aid kit – simple dressings, antiseptic cream, thermometer, rehydration powder/tablets.
• Basic over the counter medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain and fever, diarrhoea medication, antacids, motion sickness tablets.
• Covid rapid antigen tests and masks.
• Your doctor can advise if you might need some emergency prescription medicine in your kit, like an antibiotic for traveller’s diarrhoea (depends on your destination).
• We sell travel kits here at GPC that contain most of the basics you might need, be sure and ask us about them at your consultation.

Preventing illness while you’re away
Just a few simple precautions can make all the difference!

• Attention to food and water safety – check if the water is safe to drink (never assume; if in doubt, don’t). Ensure hot food is very hot and cold food is very cold, anything in between can lead to food poisoning or gastro.
• Good hand hygiene – we’re all pretty good at this now. Keep your hand sanitiser handy.
• Be Covid aware. Many other countries have much higher rates of infection than we do and/or difficulty accessing treatments. Consider wearing a mask indoors if crowded or poorly ventilated including flights, taxi rides and so on.
• Protect yourself against insect bites – see our article this edition for more tips on this.
• Protect yourself against the sun – sunscreen, hats, eyewear, rashies, seeking shade etc – see our article last summer on skin protection.
• Reduce your risk of blood clots from long haul travel – move around on the flight if you can, check with your doctor if you are at higher risk or post-surgery.
• Practice safe sex.
• Wear seatbelts, helmets and any other safety equipment for your activities.
• Know how to get medical help locally if you need it.

No matter your destination, we recommend you come and see us before you go to discuss how to stay healthy, so you get maximum enjoyment from your trip.