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Staying Healthy During Travels

Updated: 4 days ago



Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, staying healthy has been at the forefront of people’s priorities. Here are some tips and reminders to stay safe while having fun!


Pre-departure

  1. If you have any cough, fever or flu-like symptoms, you should probably skip the trip (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). Remember that your health is the most important thing, and you would not want to risk getting sick while on the trip or infecting others. 

  2. Keep up to date with your vaccines (World Health Organisation, 2021). Especially when visiting cold countries during winter months, you may consider getting vaccinated against the flu virus, which is updated every year to protect against the prominent strains for that year (CDC, 2018). 

  3. Ensure you have the right documentation and that you completed the necessary PCR or ART tests required. Also download the necessary mobile applications, if necessary, as determined by the country you are visiting (Mayo Clinic, 2024). 

  4. Consider setting up contactless payment methods for overseas use, such as mobile transfers. This would allow you to have less physical interactions with others by handling physical cash, which are easily contaminated surfaces (NMI, 2022). 

  5. Remember to bring along a list of basic medication, such as fever, flu and cough medication, as not all countries may have pharmacies that are readily accessible or affordable (Abbott, 2021). Also carry it with you at all times and do not place it in check-in baggage, so it is readily available should there be a need for urgent use (Spice, 2023). 


During the trip

  1. Consider wearing a mask while on the plane (CDC, 2018; Cleveland Clinic, 2022). 

  2. Wash your hands often, and with soap, to prevent spread of germs (World Health Organisation, 2021). 

  3. Be vigilant about where you choose to eat and ensure that food vendors are handling food in a hygienic manner - food handling with clean hands or gloves, clean food preparation areas, separation of raw and cooked food, and proper storage of raw meat. It may also be helpful to eat at crowded stalls as this ensures fresher stock (Ng, 2023).

  4. Communicate with your travel partners if you start to feel ill so that you can protect them. If this happens, do not share food, keep your distance from them, and wear a mask when in close proximity to others if necessary (CDC, 2018). 

Remember to stay safe while having fun! Happy travelling!


Written by: Grace Teo


08/2024


Sources:

Abbott. (2021, January 5). During COVID-19: Here Are 5 Air Travel Health Tips. Abbott. https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/nutrition-health-and-wellness/during-COVID-19-here-are-5-air-travel-health-tips.html 


CDC. (2018, July 31). Influenza Prevention: Information for Travelers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/school-business/travelersfacts.htm 


Cleveland Clinic. (2022, March 18). How To Travel Safely During the Pandemic. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-protect-yourself-from-the-coronavirus-while-traveling 



Ng, R. (2023, April 11). How to deal with food poisoning while traveling—and how to avoid it altogether. Travel. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/food-poisoning-travel-diarrahea-e-coli-cures 


NMI. (2023, August 22). How Contactless Payments Impact Global Health and the Environment | NMI. NMI. https://www.nmi.com/resources/blog/how-contactless-payments-impact-global-health-and-the-environment/#:~:text=and%20global%20health.- 

Spice, D. (2023, September 6). Managing Medication While Travelling - World Travel Protection. World Travel Protection. https://worldtravelprotection.com/travel-insights/managing-medication-while-travelling/#:~:text=Keeping%20your%20medication%20near%20you 


World Health Organisation. (2021, December 20). Holiday travel safety tips during COVID-19. Www.who.int. https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news-room/feature-stories/item/holiday-travel-safety-tips-during-covid-19 



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