The life of the traveller is one that’s fraught with risk. However, there are plenty of steps you can take to minimise them and enjoy a happy and healthy trip.
With that in mind, here are seven savvy health and safety measure you can take.
- Pack a first aid kit
Injuries are common when you’re travelling, no matter how careful you are. However, if you pack a travel first-aid kit, you’ll be able to patch up minor injuries until you can reach a medical professional. Items worth packing in your first aid kit include: plasters, paracetamol, antihistamines, sterile dressings, bandage tape, small scissors and tweezers.
- Stay hydrated
When you’re dashing from one place to another, as travellers do, you’ll work up quite a thirst. It’s therefore a good idea to carry a bottle of water with you, so you can stay healthy and hydrated. For those of you heading out into the wilderness, a filler bottle from Brita or LifeStraw is a great investment – these products remove harmful chemicals so you can enjoy safe and nice tasting water from pretty much any source.
- Store emergency details
Disaster can strike when you least expect it and you might not have time to search for numbers for local police, or directions to your nearest embassy. Plus, you’ll probably be too stressed to think rationally. Avoid falling into this trap by writing down these emergency details or storing them on your phone in advance, so you can quickly access them when a tricky situation arises.
- Watch out for scams
With their loose cash, out of place attire, cutting edge travel tech on display and lack of local knowledge, tourists are seen as easy targets by scammer, crooks and thieves. So make sure you’re vigilant and get clued up on common travel scams by checking out a fraud prevention site such as Scam Detector.
- Ask locals for advice
When it comes to finding out which neighbourhoods are safe and other useful details, local people are your best source of information, so don’t be afraid to approach them. Just be wary of strangers who offer up advice without being prompted and consider getting a second opinion to validate what they say. If you’re staying at a hotel or hostel, front desk staff are usually reliable sources, as are, Airbnb hosts if that’s your accommodation preference.
- Drive to the airport
When you’re travelling with valuable items such as cameras and tablets, getting there by car is a safer option than public transport. But remember to book airport parking on a comparison site such as SkyParkSecure.com to bag yourself a secure parking space at UK airports like Bristol and Birmingham.
- Stay active on the plane
Sitting on a long-haul flight can lead to a whole host of musculoskeletal problems, not to mention serious conditions such as DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). So try to stretch your legs every hour and learn some seat exercise which you can use to keep your blood flowing.
What are your tips for staying healthy and safe while travelling? Please share them in the comments section.
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