WELLNESS - Holiday health hazards

The last thing you want is to get sick or injured while 

you are on holiday. Follow our guide to staying safe

Nobody plans to get sick or injured on holiday, but it happens. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, more than 1200 Australians are hospitalised while travelling overseas each year, while up to 900 Australians die overseas annually. Brett Robinson, CEO of travel insurance company Mondial Assistance Australia, says the old rule of thumb - "if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel" - still rings true.

"In Australia in 2008, we handled over 61,312 travel insurance claims and more than 10,362 medical assistance cases," he says. "We also arranged for 245 medical repatriations for Australian travellers who needed to be brought home." Your chances of staying safe and healthy on holidays are greatly improved with a bit of pre-planning, clever packing and risk assessment. Here are the big six travel health hazards to watch out for.

Food poisoning

Without doubt, the most common ailment to affect travellers is diarrhoea or vomiting associated with consuming contaminated food or water. "Cook it, peel it, boil it or forget it," says Tonia Buzzolini, a registered nurse and national operations manager for travel health service company Travelvax. "Stick to foods that are well cooked, hot in temperature and freshly prepared. Salads washed in local water are out. Nonpasteurised dairy products are out."

Buzzolini says no matter how diligent you are, there's still a good chance you'll get a touch of Delhi belly. Some travellers like to take anti-diarrhoea drugs at the first signs, though medical wisdom these days says it might be better to let the diarrhoea run its course. "Don't block yourself up, but if you have to sit on a 12-hour bus ride to Kathmandu with the runs, you'll want to take something to sort out the situation,"Buzzolini says.

Action plan: Avoid food or water that may be contaminated. Pack anti-diarrhoea drug Imodium, anti-nausea drug Stemetil and rehydration powders in your medicine kit.

Moped mishaps

Travel insurance companies receive multiple calls daily from sore and sorry travellers who have taken off on a moped only to hit the ground with a thud. "I would say one of the most common hazards is broken limbs from biking," Robinson says. Buzzolini is clear in her advice on moped or motorbike riding: "Don't get on one!" she says. "We don't know the roads, we don't know the rules.

If you are going to do it, make sure your travel insurance covers you fully" Countless travellers end up with burn scars on their calves after jumping off a moped or motorbike. "If you do get burnt, stand under a cold shower for at least 20 minutes," Buzzolini says. "Don't pull off any clothing that may have melted and stuck to the skin, as this will do more damage."

Action plan: The best idea is not to ride a moped or scooter overseas, but if you insist, make sure you have adequate travel insurance.

Contagious concerns

A host of nasties lurk in some of the most popular places Aussies travel to: tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, rabies, dengue fever, cholera, measles, mumps and rubella, just to name a few. "Always make sure you're up to date with childhood immunisations because you just never know," Buzzolini says.

Action plan: Check with your doctor or a traveller's health service before you depart to get up to date with vaccinations.

Dodgy pedicures

The thrill of the cheap can be tempting in South-East Asia when it comes to $5 pedicures and cut-price tattoos. Beware, you might be taking home more than you bargained for. Reports of hepatitis B and HIV contracted from dodgy blades, needles and nail files in places such as Thailand, India and Indonesia are more common than you think.

Action plan: Insist on clean, fresh, sterilised pedicure tools and razors at salons.

STIs

Nobody expects their holiday romance to end with genital warts or worse. The obvious advice for avoiding infection from gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections(STIs) is to abstain from sexual activity or be very careful about practising safe sex at all times. "Pack condoms and be sure to check the expiry dates," Buzzolini says.

Action plan: If it's not on, it's not on. Unprotected sex is never a good idea, but even more so in foreign countries where there may be a higher prevalence of potentially deadly STIs.

Adventure gone awry

Holidays in far-flung destinations bring out the adventurer in us all. But before you sign up for that four-day Himalayan trek or deep-sea dive in Malaysia, consider the risks - broken bones, dislocated ligaments, the bends - and how far you'll be from help if disaster strikes. "Remember, you might be seeking medical assistance in some rural place where there's no guarantee they will be using clean needles at the medical centre, if indeed there is a medical centre at all," Buzzolini says.

Action plan: Book adventure activities with reputable firms. Ensure your travel insurance covers you for accident, emergency and medical evacuation. Pack a clean needle and syringe pack.

SOURCE: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/