As the summer months approach, many of us will be looking forward to time away in sunnier climes. For most people, holidays play an important role in our lives. Ensuring that you stay healthy during your travels can help you make the most of your time away. So here are our top tips to stay healthy when you’re abroad.
- Do your homework – When traveling to a foreign country, it’s important to do your research and know the risks before you go. Visit the tourism board of the country you are visiting and check whether you need any vaccinations before you head off.
- Organise medical travel insurance – What would you do if you fell ill abroad and needed to be hospitalised or if you broke a leg sightseeing and had to be airlifted to hospital? This is where medical travel insurance can provide that all important help. It can be frustrating to discover that as you get older or develop medical conditions, it can be much harder to find comprehensive travel cover. As a CLA member, don’t forget you have access to special medical travel insurance cover.
- Take a travel medical kit with you – ensure that you have the basics with you: headache tablets, anti-diarrhoea medication, anti-histamines, pain relief, hand sanitizer, plasters, aloe gel for sunburn and insect repellent are a must.
- Stay safe in the sun – Whatever your age, the best way to enjoy the sun safely and protect your skin from sunburn is to use a combination of shade, clothing and sunscreen. Cancer Research recommends that you use a sunscreen with a protection level of at least SPF15 and 4 stars. Use it generously and reapply regularly.
- Stay hydrated – Keeping yourself hydrated under hot weather conditions is very important to avoid heat-related illness. Drink before you feel thirsty and keep a water bottle handy at all times.
Many illnesses are contracted through contaminated food and water. Reduce your risk of disease, particularly in countries with poor sanitation, by not drinking tap water or using it to brush your teeth unless it has been treated. Use filtered, bottled, boiled or chemically treated water instead. - Combat jet lag – When you only have a week or two for your holiday, the last thing you want to feel is exhausted for your trip. Jet lag is tough as it’s almost impossible to beat completely. Try switching your phone to local time on the plane. Do this before you even arrive at your destination then you’ll already be thinking in the time you are going to. Avoid alcohol before flying and try and sleep on the flight.
Whatever your travel plans this summer, have a happy and healthy time.
Specialist Medical Travel Insurance for CLA members
At CLA Healthcare, we believe that whatever your reason for wanting to travel abroad, having a medical condition should not restrict you from doing so.
We will offer a quote in 98% of cases to cover a range of over 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Angina
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Heart conditions
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Epilepsy
- Stroke
Plus there are no age limits on either single trip or annual policies
Find out more
To find out more about health screening, please speak to a member of the dedicated CLA Healthcare on 01274 717 361, email healthcare@cla.org.uk or visit www.clahealthcare.co.uk.