Be Smart While you Travel

<h1>Be Smart While you Travel</h1>Author: <a title="Judy Wilson" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/judy-wilson/6511.htm">Judy Wilson</a> Every year millions of Americans travel abroad for vacation, business, or to visit friends and family. Unfortunately, about half of the international travelers get sick or injured during their trip. Nothing can ruin a vacation more than getting sick. Most travel-related sickness and injury can be prevented. 
Be Smart While You Travel:
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available and your hands are not visibly dirty, use alcohol-based hand gel (with at least 60% alcohol) to clean your hands.
Drink only bottled or boiled water or carbonated (bubbly) drinks from sources you trust. Do not drink tap water or fountain drinks, or eat ice cubes.
Only eat food that has been fully cooked or fruits and vegetables that have been washed and peeled by you. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.
Make sure you know how to protect yourself from injury while you travel. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injury deaths in travelers. Swimming-related accidents are also a major cause of injury among travelers.
Do not handle animals, especially monkeys, dogs, and cats, to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague).
If you might be bitten by insects (like mosquitoes or ticks) use insect repellent (bug spray) with 30-50% DEET. The label on the container will tell you the DEET content. 
Cruise Ship Travel and Health:
Because of multiple ports visited, cruise ship travelers often are uncertain what prevention behaviors and immunizations are appropriate for their itineraries. In general, prospective cruise ship travelers should 
1) ensure that their routinely recommended age- and medical condition-specific immunizations are up to date, particularly influenza vaccine if indicated; 
2) follow the prevention and immunization recommendations that apply to each country on the itinerary; 
3) pay particular attention to hand hygiene: wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water and if there is no soap and water available, use an alcohol-based product, with at least 60% alcohol, to wash your hands.
Before going abroad, learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, REMEMBER to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form.
 
 About the Author: Judy Wilson is a former travel agent with a love of all types of travel. For more information visit <a href="http://www.allaboutthehoneymoon.com" />All about the honeymoon.

Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/be-smart-while-you-travel-50627.html" title="Be Smart While you Travel">Be Smart While you Travel</a>

Every year millions of Americans travel abroad for vacation, business, or to visit friends and family. Unfortunately, about half of the international travelers get sick or injured during their trip. Nothing can ruin a vacation more than getting sick. Most travel-related sickness and injury can be prevented.

Be Smart While You Travel:

Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available and your hands are not visibly dirty, use alcohol-based hand gel (with at least 60% alcohol) to clean your hands.

Drink only bottled or boiled water or carbonated (bubbly) drinks from sources you trust. Do not drink tap water or fountain drinks, or eat ice cubes.

Only eat food that has been fully cooked or fruits and vegetables that have been washed and peeled by you. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.

Make sure you know how to protect yourself from injury while you travel. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injury deaths in travelers. Swimming-related accidents are also a major cause of injury among travelers.

Do not handle animals, especially monkeys, dogs, and cats, to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague).

If you might be bitten by insects (like mosquitoes or ticks) use insect repellent (bug spray) with 30-50% DEET. The label on the container will tell you the DEET content.

Cruise Ship Travel and Health:

Because of multiple ports visited, cruise ship travelers often are uncertain what prevention behaviors and immunizations are appropriate for their itineraries. In general, prospective cruise ship travelers should

1) ensure that their routinely recommended age- and medical condition-specific immunizations are up to date, particularly influenza vaccine if indicated;
2) follow the prevention and immunization recommendations that apply to each country on the itinerary;
3) pay particular attention to hand hygiene: wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water and if there is no soap and water available, use an alcohol-based product, with at least 60% alcohol, to wash your hands.

Before going abroad, learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, REMEMBER to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form.

Judy Wilson is a former travel agent with a love of all types of travel. For more information visit All about the honeymoon.

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Article Tags: Health, Travel, Cruise Ships

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Be Smart While you Travel

By: Judy Wilson | 28/08/2006 | Travel
Every year millions of Americans travel abroad for vacation, business, or to visit friends and family. Unfortunately, about half of the international travelers get sick or injured during their trip.