Have you planned trips to
get away from your busy life for a while? Apart from
carefully choosing your travel agent and planning
your destinations, it is important to take precautions
to safeguard your health during the trip. Here are
some useful tips you can take to ensure that you have
a happy and healthy holiday.
Before you go
Pay attention to the
hygiene condition of the destinations and the accommodation.
Check with your travel
agent, doctor or the Port Health Travel Health Centre
for the types of vaccines required.
Medications that need
to be taken regularly should be carried as hand
baggage. Besides, you may consider to bring along
some medications and items for emergency use, such
as drugs for headache and motion sickness, bandages
and mosquito repellent, etc.
Consider purchasing
health insurance for travellers.
If you have any medical
problems, please discuss with your family doctor
before travelling.
During
travel
Food and personal hygiene
Always wash hands before
eating and after going to toilets.
Take only thoroughly
cooked food and avoid raw or partially cooked seafood.
Drink only boiled water,
or drinks bottled by reputable companies, and pasteurized
milk or dairy products. Avoid drinks containing ice of
unknown origin.
Do not patronize street-side
food hawkers.
Prevention of mosquito-borne
diseases (such as dengue fever and malaria)
While staying outdoors,
wear light-coloured and long-sleeved clothes and trousers
to protect the body.
Apply insect repellents
to exposed skin or clothings. Choose one containing DEET.
Apply repeatedly whenever necessary.
Rest in air-conditioned
or well-screened rooms. Use mosquito screens or nets when
the room is not air-conditioned
Sexually transmitted diseases
Please note that a single
unprotected sexual exposure is sufficient to transmit
the HIV virus (which causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted
diseases, if your sexual partner happens to be infected.
Using condoms correctly
reduces the risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases,
but the golden rule is to refrain from promiscuity and
avoid having sex with strangers.
Other precautions
Be careful while you
participate in high-risk activities like sky diving, shooting
rapids, high altitude trekking etc.
Do not swim in polluted
waters, otherwise you may get eye, ear or intestinal infections.
Physical activity too
strenuously under hot weather will cause water and salt
loss, leading to fatigue. Travellers should bring along
adequate water for replenishment to avoid heat stroke.
After
the trip
If you have any discomfort
after returning to Hong Kong, you should consult
your doctor.
Don’t forget
to tell your doctor where you have visited, including
transit countries.
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