Rules of Travel – My dear travelers, today I have a very important and necessary entrance for you as regards health and our safety during the journey. Many factors contribute to a successful journey and one of the most important is the knowledge and awareness of the situations that we can meet in different corners of the world (even if they don’t have to be preventive at all!).
It is fantastic to discover new places, often unknown, but somewhere in this Euro-Fiat, an ambush that is crazy to take pictures of successive landscapes and try the next exotic dishes, there must be a place to stay can take care of itself rationally.
If anyone thinks that they are untouchable and that only good situations happen on vacation or on a dream trip, unfortunately, they are wrong. Regardless of the purpose of our trip and its nature, healthcare must be the number one in all activities.
During the holiday season, travel frequency increases, but this trend is slowly changing and trips appear all year round. And more and more these are remote, tropical, and culturally different places. This means that we must be well prepared for all possible situations – especially in a new location – so that we can enjoy the trip without problems.
The quality of life and health conditions in Europe are very high and we are used to it, and we often do not know how many aspects we have to pay attention to while visiting another country, especially a less developed one, different flora or bacterial diseases do not occur in our country of origin.
We also reverse the myth that on short trips like in Europe we can shake hands to prepare properly. It doesn’t matter if we travel to the Amazon for a week or a month. The principles of care for health, safety, and travel prophylaxis generally included applying EVERYWHERE.
I’m not here to scare you, but to share my travel experience with you and what I’ve often learned about traveling health. More importantly, the fact that the most dangerous situations and diseases can be easily avoided by following the basic principles of prevention, that is, pre-prevention.
Remember that pre-departure vaccinations are the foundation, but vaccinations alone will not protect us from infections. Our main goal is therefore to prevent disease infection. And for this, we have some safety rules in daily operation.
That’s why I’m in a hurry today and I’ve put together for you the most important rules that we travelers must know and apply. Because we agree, there is nothing worse than being sick on the road.
Golden Rules For Becoming a Master Traveler
Rules of Travel You Need To Remember
Drink only bottled water
(with a closure that is protected with a sheet that is not used in Poland) or in cans. Also order the water in a bottle in restaurants, not in a bottle that is served in a jug or directly in a glass.
Warning! In India, I have seen cases where the water sold in street kiosks was poured from the well into plastic bottles and then the cap was melted with a lighter to fill it in bottles beforehand (!). There is a patent for this: Always squeeze the bottle with water. If the cap doesn’t light up, it means the bottle was closed at the factory and you can drink it boldly.
Avoid drinks with ice from an unknown source
As you remember bottled water, but how hot it is, people don’t care that tap water is also in our juice or drink. Inspecting the water source used seems to be a miracle, so I use a simple rule: I never drink frozen beverages in the tropics. Believe me, it can be experienced and the problem of wondering if it is definitely good water will go away when the hand takes it away.
Wash fruits and vegetables with bottled water or boiled water
Remember – the same principle when using ice – washing food with tap water or well water is no different from drinking because bacteria and viruses simply remain on the food. Always remove them even after washing. You can also burn the skin with boiling water, killing most germs.
Avoid foods that are undercooked
High temperatures and humidity as well as poor food storage conditions make it susceptible to an increase in the number of microorganisms that can cause infections. This applies in particular to meat, eggs, seafood, and dairy products.
Do not eat undercooked foods and foods that you are unsure of whether they have been heat-treated or that have not been refrigerated for a long time. Contrary to appearances, it is not difficult to travel, for example, the stands in Southeast Asia are a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
It is enough to look at raw meat or fish that has been on the shelves for many hours without a refrigerator and should turn on a light. Another example: Cuba and famous cakes with whipped cream are sold on the street at 30 degrees (without a refrigerator). We definitely say NO to such snacks.
Pay attention to restaurants and street stalls
I know, I know you will be outraged right now because you like going to a new place and not trying the local cuisine in places where mostly the locals eat and are usually very cheap for Jaipur tour package. I don’t say no, just be careful.
Try to choose those with heavy traffic. Therefore, the food needs to be prepared regularly and try cooked and fried dishes. Also, pay attention to what these dishes are served – ideally, they are disposable plates and cutlery and not, for example, reusable plastic.
All you have to do is take a close look to see that after your predecessor has just been rinsed roughly in a large bowl of water that has been there for several hours and contains more bacteria than you can imagine.
Brush your teeth with bottled water or boiled
Sounds like a fantasy? But it is not. Any seasoned traveler will tell you that for the first time you need to put a bottle of mineral water in the bathroom in an exotic location. For example, think of her when you brush your teeth because we have no reflex to rinse your mouth with water from the bottle.
I’ll take another step forward: you can wash your face with such water too, and if you think it’s too much, always, but always close your mouth by washing your mouth or in the shower bathing (and then your face and mouth area with a towel) accidentally do not swallow water.
It’s still the same tap water we’re trying to avoid, and sometimes a drop is enough to poison. Trust me, I did it in India – just because I forgot to close my mouth and wash my hair in the shower.
Wash your hands often and always clean them
Frequent washing shortens life – says the proverb, but not this time. Hand hygiene is an absolute basis. Always wash them before eating and use soap. Also, remember to dry your hands with a towel for the same reasons as above to avoid contact with your mouth or eat with water. And the best thing is that every traveler must have a MUST with them – an alcohol-based disinfectant gel – and can use it even after washing their hands.
Insects are indeed a difficult enemy. There are many, they are small and “spread at the speed of light”. Your insistence is not limited to blisters on the skin or unbearable ringing above the ear.
Insects are one of the most dangerous carriers of infectious diseases such as malaria, fever, dengue fever or Japanese encephalitis. Contrary to the illusion, you only need an insect bite to become infected. And these diseases are bad and for some of them (eg Malaria or dengue fever) there is currently no vaccine available.
It means that our only weapon is prevention, or in short, don’t let yourself be bitten. Since I believe that using the most effective method of minimizing risk, i. H. Do not indulge in places where there is a risk of morbidity (unfortunately, much of the world today and everything we call the tropics),
Rules of Travel You Need To Remember
Repellents, repellents, and repellents
The simplest and most effective rule: use repellents, or chemicals that repel insects. However, choose those that contain DEET or ikicdynÄ ™. The formula: spray, gel or roll-on is optional. It is also important to know which concentration to choose.
In the case of DEET, it should not exceed 20% in children and 50% in adults. However, it is not a suitable remedy for infants under 2 months of age. DEET agents last about 6 hours but should be used more often, for example after a water bath.
My advice is: don’t hesitate to use repellents. Don’t do it this way: I don’t want to, I forgot it and maybe nothing bites me. I also had such a selective approach until I got dengue in Thailand. You can also try local remedies that often rely on insect repellent ingredients (such as lemon eucalyptus oil or regular oil) and are equally effective.
Warning! Keep in mind that in tropical countries where you use UV filters, the repellent is applied to the skin after having first protected it with sunscreens.
Cover your body
There are many guides who advise you to hide from head to toe in the tropics, e.g. H. Long pants, long sleeves, socks, and high boots. And if you look at a place, e.g. B. in Thailand, you will find that she wears jeans and blouses with long sleeves even at 30 degrees.
In part, it is a habit of high temperatures and partial protection against mosquitoes. However, I am aware that if we don’t go to the jungle or go on a safari, but only for a vacation trip to warm countries, everyone wants to take advantage of this heat and sun, and walking in jeans is the last thing we dream of.
I have a patent such that, for example, I wear long, thin dresses or thin and wide pants that cover the skin but are still airy. I wear a tunic or kimono so I don’t feel covered from head to toe.
Warning! If you travel more survival, you should consider purchasing insecticides such as permethrin impregnated with the clothing factory. This means a measure that has a dissuasive effect on various types of insects such as chamomile flea, ticks, mosquitoes, and sand.
Prepare your accommodation
It is very important to check the room before going to sleep. First, observe the tightness of windows and doors, check if the safety nets have holes, and remove all mosquitoes from the room.
I highly recommend choosing air-conditioned rooms as it is a natural barrier that crosses insects. If you don’t have air conditioning, you will have to choose a place for mosquito nets, but be careful: make sure there are no holes, as the mosquito nets on the beds often leave a lot to be desired in many hostels or hotels.
When I traveled to less developed countries like Laos or Cambodia in Southeast Asia, I had my mosquito net in my backpack (PLN 15 on Allegro), which kept me away from bloodthirsty mosquito attacks many times.
Not just mosquitoes
We also refute the myth that only mosquitoes threaten us. Insects that transmit dangerous diseases are much more and there is nothing to panic about. However, keep in mind that applying the above principles protects us from the full range of insects.
In a tropical climate, there are often sandworms (extremely irritating micro-openings that are difficult to spot and do not sound like a mosquito) – carriers of leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis flies, chrysops from which leaks can develop and well-known fangs that use them the African coma. In a word: there is nothing to protect!
Exotic travel also involves possible contact with unknown animal species that live close to humans, e.g. Monkeys in Indonesia or India. Our first instinct is to take a good look at them, take a picture, etc.
However, you need to be careful, as they are still wild animals that are often disease carriers like rabies. Bats are also carriers of bats, for example in caves. In addition, the likelihood of being bitten by a dog or a cat is even greater, and this is not missing in Thailand, for example,
there are whole hordes. It’s worth getting vaccinated against rabies and staying in touch with animals.
When traveling in open areas and close to nature, watch out for snakes, scorpions, and spiders. There are practically no animals in Poland, so we are not used to considering them in our way of thinking.
Rules of Travel You Need To Remember
Avoid contact
The simplest rule: stay away from unknown animals. Do not try to touch the monkeys and do not use their food (it is very irritating and can cause them aggressively). The same applies to random dogs or cats, including domestic dogs. In poorly developed countries, the approach to animals differs from the western one, no one vaccinates and does not check them by the veterinarian, and most of them are not.
Wear full footwear
Flip flops for a jungle walk? No thanks! When choosing jungle, forest, or rural areas, remember to wear full footwear as this will better protect you from possible animal bites that live in the grass and undergrowth. Always check your shoes before putting them on and shake them gently.
It is hard to imagine how long a shoe can fit, for example, for my trainer who stayed on the terrace in Thailand, four frogs were packed! You don’t know how difficult it was to remove them from him!
Protect the youngest
When traveling with children, remember that their growth makes them an easy target for animals such as dogs or cats, making them extremely susceptible to possible contact with their saliva or bite. Children, in particular, have no barriers and tend to cling to animals.
Prepare for the snorkel
If you want to snorkel, get special rubber shoes that protect you from entering toxic sea creatures. You don’t have to look far here – for example, in Croatia, there are many sea urchins whose sting is very painful and poisonous. And the news in the warm waters of Australia.
Often what is not seen is the most dangerous, so one of the most recommended is the tetanus vaccine found in the soil. It is easy to get infected with, as you only need a small abrasion or scratch on your feet (and this is easy to do), which, combined with the outdoor shoes we use on vacation, exposes us to potential infections. The best protection is definitely to wear covered shoes.
Rules of Travel You Need To Remember
Do not attempt to walk barefoot
After all, even the thinnest flaps can protect against infections. Also, avoid places with contaminated soil or sand.
See where you are going
Also avoid places with tall grass, bushes that venture into the forest after dark.
Do not bathe in unmarked areas
It is also good to avoid swimming or wading in reservoirs or shallow ponds, as there may also be parasites.
WHAT ELSE?
In the end, I will add some important rules that will surely help you on small and large trips:
FLIGHTS AND GAL JET
After reaching the new location, take the time to acclimatize and get used to, for example, high temperatures or differences in altitude. Visits and explorations with a lot of tiredness and shock of the organism following changes in time and climatic zones are a simple step to weaken it and therefore make it more susceptible to diseases.
SUN PROTECTION
In a warm and tropical climate, think about watering your body correctly and surely on sunscreens. Don’t underestimate the sun, because the closer it is to the equator, the stronger it is and it tans us faster and harder. And we are protected against such a sun only by very high filters (at least 30 SPF) and absolutely a hat! This is not a nice tan, but to avoid sunstrokes, strokes, and melanomas of the skin.
HUMAN FACTOR
A very important and often underestimated factor. She falls ill while traveling and even goes to the hospital. In addition to valid and proven insurance, which is an absolute basis, whether it is a short trip to Europe or a trip to the tropics, you must also have your eyes around your head in connection with medical facilities.
In underdeveloped countries, the level of infertility and professionalism of staff may differ from Western standards, which entails a tourist risk for hepatitis B or HIV / AIDS when taking infusions or intravenous medications. So if you have a choice (I’m not talking about extreme life and death cases when help is already available), think five times if the place you arrived meets the cleanliness standards.
This also applies to occasional sexual encounters: always use condoms and note that the risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases and HIV / AIDS is much higher in developing countries than in Europe.
The same goes for implementing cosmetic treatments or tattoos – if necessary, choose a reliable place, as this reduces the probability of a contraction, including WZW B and C.
Plan with your head!
I know that when the journey of a journey comes, everything else goes into the background, but be careful of everything and book a taxi for Jaipur sightseeing. The world will not escape us and health can carefully choose the places you want to visit.
Check out the embassy pages for the latest information on e.g. B. natural land register and the WHO website, where information about the epidemic or an increased risk of infection, e.g. B. Dengue fever in a specific region. If you don’t need to, don’t go to dangerous places and don’t wait for the threat to disappear.
None of us are untouchable, but the most dangerous situations can be avoided. Adventure is an adventure on one side, on the other – health and safety are really important at the end of the day. Without this, each trip loses its taste.
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