Your off on holiday? Don't forget to pack your first aid kit and make sure you look after your health. It could make all the difference between a dream holiday and a nightmare holiday. Find out what to pack in your suitcase here.
It might sound a bit extreme but taking some basic first aid supplies can makes a big difference when you’ve cut yourself or eaten something dodgy. You can buy mini first aid kits at your chemist, but if you want to create your own then think about including the following:
If you are taking prescribed medication (e.g. inhaler for your asthma) make sure you have enough to last for your holiday. Ask your doctor if you need to take a letter or certificate to prove that they are for your own use.
If you are going abroad, make sure your routine immunisations are up-to-date. Some countries have diseases and illnesses that we do not have in Scotland, and so you might also need extra immunisation. What medicine and vaccinations you need will depend on where you are going.
Vaccinations you might need are Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Diptheria, Cholera, Yellow Fever, Meningiococcal Meningitis, Tick-born Encephalitis, Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies. You should also ensure you are up-to-date with your Tetanus and Tuberculosis jags. You might also need a course of Malaria medication. Contact your doctors surgery or travel clinic for up-to-date info on the immunisations you might need. Information can also be found on the Fit for Travel website.
Plan ahead! Most vaccines can be given over a four week period, so ask your doctor in good time. But if you are going on holiday sooner, still visit the clinic to make sure you get as much protection as possible. Some vaccinations will be free and paid for by the NHS, some vaccinations you will need to pay for yourself.
You need to ensure that you have medical cover while you are away, this will make sure you can visit the doctor or hospital if you need too and won't have to pay a fortune. The leaflet ‘Health Advice For Travellers’ tells you which countries provide free medical care, you can get a copy at a Post Office or health centre. However, the best person to have a chat with before jetting off would be your GP or Practice Nurse, or your nearest travel clinic.
If you are going to an European Union country (and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland) then you should get a European Health Insurance Card. It entitles you to medical treatment in EU countries. The card is FREE, and you can apply online, by phone and buy post. It's worth noting that not all UK residents are covered in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland so if you are going there on holiday then you need to find out more information before you go.
If you are travelling outside the EU the most important thing to remember is travel insurance. No matter where you are going or for how long, make sure you have adequate medical and personal liability cover. Having a accident or falling ill abroad could cost thousands of pounds if you are not insured.
If you're under 18, you can't get your own travel insurance but you can go on your parents' policy if you're travelling with them. Travel insurance can be bought from banks, building societies, travel agents, supermarkets and online.
Anyone who has ever been travel sick can tell you how awful it is, but there are a few things you can do to treat the symptoms. You can buy travel sickness pills at chemists - ask the chemist what they think could be suitable as there are lots of different types. You can also buy bands which you place round your wrists; these are said to work by acupressure and put pressure on certain points of your wrist. Experts say the best thing to do is keep looking out of the window at a point on the horizon. Distracting yourself by listening to music and keeping away from food and smoke smells is also said to help.
Recent research shows that young people are more likely to lower their sexual inhibitions and take greater risks when abroad. When you're on holiday, relaxed, and the alcohol is flowing, you're more likely put your self in situations that you wouldn't normally at home. Many young people have unprotected sex with someone new while on holiday, but few receive sex advice or health screenings when they return home. What happen's on hoilday, stay's on holiday! Right?
No! Don't change your attitude to safe sex just because your on holiday. An STD is probably not what you expected from your dream get away. Rates of serious sexually transmitted infections like syphilis and HIV are much higher in some parts of the world than in the UK. If your sexually active remember to pick up some condoms before you go. Depending on where you are going, they may not be as readily avaliable as at home.
Many sexually transmitted infections with obvious symptoms don't show up for a few weeks after you've been exposed. If you have had unprotected sex on holiday remember to get yourself checked out when you're back home.
Published on 08/07/2010
Last modified on 19/12/2011
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