Your Health Matters
June Tavenor Brake
June 6th, 2006
Good Day Sunshine
Palm trees, sandy beaches, drinks with umbrellas and endless sunshine… Summer vacation is almost upon us, but what should we be thinking in regards to our health and travel?
Researching Before You Go
First of all, research where you are going. If you are using a travel agent, they should be able to help you with all the details. But if you are planning destinations on your own (very easy to do in the Internet-does-it-all era we live in), it’s important to know what the health concerns are in the regions you are planning to visit. The smartest thing you can do is visit your public health nurse plenty of times in advance in order to plan for any vaccinations or documents you may need for your trip. The Lonely Planet travel healthy books are a fantastic research -- they are tiny (easy to carry around), fun to read, informative, and overall, a worthwhile investment.
Two Months before departure
So you’ve decided where you want to go. Now is the time to find out exactly what you should be concerned about. Again, this is where visiting your public health nurse will come in handy. Many tropical destinations have associated vaccinations, and some vaccinations require more than one dose for effective immunity. Learn what foods are okay and be certain the water you are drinking is safe. Most all-inclusive destinations have stringent water purification systems, but be sure to check with your travel agent and agencies such as Health Canada.
When you book your travel, the most important thing you can add on is travel insurance. Many people mistakenly think that travel insurance is only for older adults and people with health problems. But accidents happen to everyone, and the last thing you want to face is trying to get home from a foreign country with a broken leg and having to pay for it.
When travelling out of Canada, the first and foremost piece of documentation to have is your passport. They are easy to get, good for five years, and make life a whole lot easier traveling across international borders. If you apply at a Passport Canada office, it will take approximately 10 days to receive your passport. Using the Post Office or a Service Canada Centre can take from 15-20 days. Applying online is also an option. Most countries and border guards are going to be familiar with Canadian passports before trying to figure out if your driver’s license is real.
What to bring with you
The easiest mistake to make when travelling south is forgetting that the sun is more powerful at these destinations. Make sure to have sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and a hat. A little after-sun lotion is a good idea as well. If you plan on swimming, a pair of water shoes can be handy in public showers, and also to avoid cutting your feet on not-so-sandy beaches.
Be prepared for food that may not agree with you and bring anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea medication as well. But be careful with these medications -- it may be a better idea for your system to purge whatever is making it sick than to keep the bacteria inside.
Another remedy to keep on hand is an allergy medication, especially if you are prone to hay fever type allergies. Also, believe it or not a cold remedy is a good idea—you would be surprised how easy it is to get a cold from air conditioned rooms! Lastly, be certain to keep any prescription medications you may have in their original bottles so foreign authorities can be certain what the tablets are.
When you get there
So, you arrived at your tropical destination. The first thing you need to do is get into the habit of putting on that sunscreen! And make sure to reapply after getting out of the pool or ocean. The sun doesn’t feel any hotter than in Toronto but it is stronger. Bottled water is a great way to remind yourself to stay hydrated. Becoming dehydrated is the quickest way to become sick when on vacation. The combination of decreased water intake and increased output through sweat can happen very fast.
Another problem is the free-flowing alcohol at a lot of these all inclusive destinations. The problem being the amount you are used to being able to consume during a Canadian summer is much less when you’re sitting in the Caribbean sun.
The idea of a vacation is relaxation, rejuvenation. As a proponent of mental health, my last vacation down south was a great refueling. The best way to enjoy your time away is to be prepared for the easy stuff, and have insurance for the potentially serious stuff. Enjoy!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH)
Her Own Way: Advice for the Woman Traveller
June is always ready to discuss health care in Canada. You can email her at:
Other articles by June:
- Is Canada ready for the Next Pandemic? (April 2006)
- An Apple a Day (February 2006)
- Private Parts: The implications for women’s health in the federal election (December 2006)
