By: Marcia Abramson
There are three categories of travelers that could involve at least six to eight months of prior preparation. If your plans include independent travel, wilderness adventure travel or recreational sports travel you are a candidate for special planning according to practitioners of travel medicine.
Dr. Elaine C. Jung in her "Guide to Healthy Medicine" has written about the many hazards that these travelers may encounter with their exposure to indigenous diseases and conditions. Special immunization and health advice are important as I found out when I trekked off to China two years ago and had the recommended Hepatitis A and B inoculations.Wilderness adventure travelers also fit into this category. They often sleep out in open forests or beachfronts exposed to frequently hostile environments. It is wise for them to be prepared with special gear, equipment and provisions and to be aware that their mode of travel may be on foot or by local over crowded conveyances. These factors can make packing light of major importance. Adequate first aid advance training is also a must under these circumstances.
I also learned that sports adventure travelers should consider the benefits of taking educational courses on injury prevention, advanced first aid, equipment repair and emergency rescue techniques during their pre-travel period as well as fitness and endurance training programs, according to Dr. Jong. Just about every year I recall newspaper reports of heroic survivals by recreational mountain climbers.
There are still many countries that require visas. China, Russia, Turkey and Brazil are a few that I have experienced recently. It would be helpful to have all the applications, necessary passport requirements, vaccinations and documents prepared three months before departure. Travel agents are very knowledgeable in this area and can help you avoid unnecessary hassles in foreign countries. In Russia, my friend waited until the last minute to obtain her Russian visa. She had some service obtain the visa for her. Unfortunately, the visa was for entry into Moscow and not St. Petersburg, our destination. The Russian immigration people would not allow her to leave the ship for independent sight-seeing. After pleading for mercy and a few hours of liberty, she was allowed three hours to explore the city of Czar Peter the Great. I have found it beneficial to update the status of routine immunizations such as tetanus, diphtheria, measles, polio and possibly the need for yellow fever, typhoid fever, meningitis, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis A and B. Additional information can be obtained from the International Association of Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT) at HYPERLINK "http://www.iamat.org" www.iamat.org with offices in Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland and U.S.A.
It is also recommended that four to six weeks prior to departure all travel immunizations be completed and that you obtain any prescriptions for medications particularly those needed for malaria prevention in certain areas. It is desirable to have a three-day malaria medication tolerance trial while still at home to deal with any negative after-effects. A travel health kit should be prepared during this time frame with diarrhea treatment, malarial pills, anti-histamines for allergic reactions to foods, insect bites and stings, animal bites and medications for high altitude intolerance.
One to two weeks before departure I have found it helpful to make two sets of photocopies of my passport and visas. Carry one set separately from the originals. Give the second set and a copy of your itinerary to your family or a friend at home. Also prepare a list of all the medications, vitamins, supplements you take on a regular basis.
Another interesting suggestion is to test your baggage weight by walking two blocks with the fully packed bags to see if you can manage this weight if porters and skycaps are not going to be available.
Hopefully you will not have to lighten your load.
Finally on the day you leave, pack your carry-on bag with your medical kit including all your daily medications and some of your personal grooming and hygiene supplies.
In the "Guide to Healthy Travel" the recommended personal grooming and hygiene supplies listed are a flashlight, (individually wrapped) or waterless hand sanitizers, insect repellent and insecticide, lip balm with sun screen SPF 15, plastic pill vials, resealable plastic bags, sunblocker SPF 30, sunglasses, a water bottle, a shatterproof mirror, pocket packages of tissue, a water filter, a heating coil or iodine Compound tablets and super glue. Over-the-counter medications to take are Afrin nose spray, Aspirin, Benadryl, Chlortrimeton, Dramamine, Hydrocortisone cream, Ibuprofen, Imodium, Melatonin, Naproxen, Throat lozenges and Sudafed for relief from varied ailments like nasal congestion, headache, allergic reaction, motion sickness, itching, diarrhea and cramping and jet lag.
A membership in IAMAT can assure you of excellent travel awareness.
© Copyright by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
