HAVE A HEALTHY HOLIDAY!

Taking a few simple precautions when travelling should help prevent you falling ill. No matter where you're travelling, or for how long, feeling unwell when away from your home environment can be most unpleasant.

Vaccinations

Well before your travel date ensure you are aware of any vaccinations you may need to have before travelling. Some vaccinations need to be given a long time in advance of the travel date so this should be a priority as soon as you book your trip. It is advisable to check with your GP which vaccinations are required and be aware that they may have to order them specially.

Medical Kit

For a standard holiday a small medical kit should be taken containing: painkillers, upset stomach remedies, rehydration salts, plasters, antihistamines, cotton wool, tweezers, thermometer and aftersun cream. For a more exotic trip a more thorough medical kit will be needed, the contents of which will depend on where you are travelling, but you may need things such as water purification tablets or a syringe.

Don't forget to pack any prescription medicines that you'll need on the trip, such as asthma inhalers.

Healthcare when Away from Home

We all hope we won't be unwell when travelling, but sometimes the unfortunate happens. Being prepared will help you deal with the situation calmly. Points to remember:

• Always take out travel insurance and be aware of what your policy covers, eg does it cover a flight home if necessary?
• Be aware of where the local doctor and hospital is and have their telephone numbers. If you can't speak the language how would you communicate in an emergency? If travelling independently it's worth knowing how to contact an interpreter. Tour operators usually provide this information to their clients but it still does no harm to be aware of how to get medical help if you need it.
• If you're travelling within Europe you should have an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), formally the E111 form. This covers basic medical treatment.
• If you have a credit card it's a good idea to take it in case you need to pay for any emergency medical treatment.

Sensible Precautions

Our bodies can react strangely when we're out of our usual routine and eating a different diet.

Unless you're absolutely sure the water is ok to drink it's advisable to drink bottled water. Remove ice from drinks served in bars and restaurants as it may have been made with tap water.

Take care with new and different foods. Of course it's a great experience to try new things but try and ensure meat is properly cooked, salads are washed and fish is fresh. Ice cream can be a cause of an upset stomach if it's made with tap water – better to eat pre-packaged versions.

Alcohol should be drunk in moderation. It's tempting to think ‘I'm on holiday so I'll have a few drinks', but the effects of the sun and excess alcohol on our bodies can have dreadful effects and spoil the holiday.

Don't drink and drive. Again, because they're on holiday some people assume the usual rules don't apply. As well as endangering lives, the penalty for drinking and driving in many countries is very serious – often immediate imprisonment.

Be careful of insects and animals. What may seem a harmless cute furry dog or cat could easily bite or scratch you and may be infected with rabies. Plus, snakes, spiders, jellyfish and even caterpillars can be lethal.

Follow the above advice and you should enjoy a healthy and happy holiday, but remember – be prepared!