Traveler's Health and Safety Sourcebook, 1st Ed.

By Omnigraphics

Provides basic health information for travelers on health and safety, types and modes of travel, types of shelters, health risks during travel, document and safety requirements for traveling, along with safety and security while traveling.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Omnigraphics
• Release date: Jun 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780780818446

Book preview

Preface

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Traveling is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, make friends, explore different cultures, and broaden one’s perspective about this world. It is an excellent stress buster and can help you disconnect from your daily routine. According to the National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO), 41,773,808 U.S. citizens traveled overseas in the year 2018, which amounts to a 9 percent increase in the total number of travelers compared to the previous year. Although traveling can be a joyful experience, various factors may pose health and safety risks during travel. So, it is important to be aware and take proper safety measures while traveling.

Traveler’s Health and Safety Sourcebook, First Edition provides information about travel health, safety advisories, and types of traveling that pose health and safety risks. It also includes health risks during travel such as viral infections, jet lag, fish poisoning, altitude sickness along with modes of travel, hosting an exchange student, hazards of hoteling, and pretravel preparations. Details on travelers with special considerations such as immunocompromised, pregnant, disabled travelers, including the outbreak of COVID-19 in various countries are also explained. Various safety and security measures to be taken while traveling are discussed. The book concludes with a glossary of terms related to travelers and a directory of resources for further help and support.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book is divided into parts and chapters. Parts focus on broad areas of interest. Chapters are devoted to single topics within a part.

Part 1: Introduction to Travel Health and Safety gives an overview of travel and tourism along with information about travel safety and security tips, travel advisories, and traveler’s checklist. It also provides answers to most frequently asked questions related to traveler’s health.

Part 2: Types of Traveling That Pose Health and Safety Risks discusses traveling abroad and across the United States along with information about studying abroad, long-term travelers and expatriates, types of travel such as summer travel, adventure travel, and high-risk area travel. It explains how to maintain vigilance while traveling abroad.

Part 3: Health Risks during Travel provides details on the outbreak of COVID-19 and explains how it affects travelers. It gives information about various other diseases that affect travelers such as blood clots, brucellosis, fevers, listeriosis, and viral infections during travel. It also discusses other health risk factors such as altitude sickness, jet lag, and sun exposures.

Part 4: Modes of Travel and Types of Shelters discusses the different types of tourist accommodations, modes of travel that includes cruise ship travel, chartered flight for travel, and renting a car along with information on hosting a foreign exchange student, bus safety tips, and hazards of hoteling.

Part 5: Pretravel Preparations provides information on travel insurance, vaccines to consider before traveling, such as travel and routine vaccines. It also talks about shopping abroad and travel health kits.

Part 6: Travelers with Special Considerations includes information about pregnant travelers, senior travelers, traveling with children, immunocompromised travelers, traveling with chronic illnesses, traveling with pets, and so on.

Part 7: Safety and Security While Traveling at Your Destination discusses the visa fraud warning, customs and import restrictions, cybersecurity tips while abroad, information on lost and stolen passport abroad, driving and road safety abroad, arrest or detention abroad, and death during travel.

Part 8: Additional Help and Information includes a glossary of terms related to travelers and a directory of resources for further help and support.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE

This volume contains documents and excerpts from publications issued by the following U.S. government agencies: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA); Federal Trade Commission (FTC); International Trade Administration (ITA); Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC); U.S. Department of Education (ED); U.S. Department of State (DOS); U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT); U.S. Forest Service (USFS); U.S. General Services Administration (GSA); and USA.gov.

It may also contain original material produced by Omnigraphics and reviewed by medical consultants.

ABOUT THE HEALTH REFERENCE SERIES

The Health Reference Series is designed to provide basic medical information for patients, families, caregivers, and the general public. Each volume provides comprehensive coverage on a particular topic. This is especially important for people who may be dealing with a newly diagnosed disease or a chronic disorder in themselves or in a family member. People looking for preventive guidance, information about disease warning signs, medical statistics, and risk factors for health problems will also find answers to their questions in the Health Reference Series. The Series, however, is not intended to serve as a tool for diagnosing illness, in prescribing treatments, or as a substitute for the physician–patient relationship. All people concerned about medical symptoms or the possibility of disease are encouraged to seek professional care from an appropriate healthcare provider.

A NOTE ABOUT SPELLING AND STYLE

Health Reference Series editors use Stedman’s Medical Dictionary as an authority for questions related to the spelling of medical terms and The Chicago Manual of Style for questions related to grammatical structures, punctuation, and other editorial concerns. Consistent adherence is not always possible, however, because the individual volumes within the Series include many documents from a wide variety of different producers, and the editor’s primary goal is to present material from each source as accurately as is possible. This sometimes means that information in different chapters or sections may follow other guidelines and alternate spelling authorities. For example, occasionally a copyright holder may require that eponymous terms be shown in possessive forms (Crohn’s disease vs. Crohn disease) or that British spelling norms be retained (leukaemia vs. leukemia).

MEDICAL REVIEW

Omnigraphics contracts with a team of qualified, senior medical professionals who serve as medical consultants for the Health Reference Series. As necessary, medical consultants review reprinted and originally written material for currency and accuracy. Citations including the phrase Reviewed (month, year) indicate material reviewed by this team. Medical consultation services are provided to the Health Reference Series editors by:

Dr. Vijayalakshmi, MBBS, DGO, MD

Dr. Senthil Selvan, MBBS, DCH, MD

Dr. K. Sivanandham, MBBS, DCH, MS (Research), PhD

OUR ADVISORY BOARD

We would like to thank the following board members for providing initial guidance on the development of this series:

Dr. Lynda Baker, Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Nancy Bulgarelli, William Beaumont Hospital Library, Royal Oak, MI

Karen Imarisio, Bloomfield Township Public Library, Bloomfield Township, MI

Karen Morgan, Mardigian Library, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI

Rosemary Orlando, St. Clair Shores Public Library, St. Clair Shores, MI

HEALTH REFERENCE SERIES UPDATE POLICY

The inaugural book in the Health Reference Series was the first edition of Cancer Sourcebook published in 1989. Since then, the Series has been enthusiastically received by librarians and in the medical community. In order to maintain the standard of providing high-quality health information for the layperson the editorial staff at Omnigraphics felt it was necessary to implement a policy of updating volumes when warranted.

Medical researchers have been making tremendous strides, and it is the purpose of the Health Reference Series to stay current with the most recent advances. Each decision to update a volume is made on an individual basis. Some of the considerations include how much new information is available and the feedback we receive from people who use the books. If there is a topic you would like to see added to the update list, or an area of medical concern you feel has not been adequately addressed, please write to:

Managing Editor

Health Reference Series

Omnigraphics

615 Griswold St., Ste. 520

Detroit, MI 48226

Part 1 | Introduction to Travel Health and Safety

Chapter 1 | Travel and Tourism: An Overview

The U.S. travel and tourism industry generated over $1.6 trillion in economic output in 2017, supporting 7.8 million U.S. jobs. Travel and tourism exports accounted for 11 percent of all U.S. exports and nearly a third (32%) of all U.S. services exports. That same year, the U.S. travel and tourism output represented 2.8 percent of gross domestic product. Expenditures by international visitors in the United States passed $251 billion in 2017, yielding a $77 billion trade surplus for the year. According to the Department of Commerce (DOS) projections, the United States will welcome 95.5 million international visitors annually by 2023 (nearly twice the number in 2000). The United States leads the world in international travel and tourism exports and ranks third in terms of total visitation.

Overview of Travel and Tourism

Travel and tourism are critical to the American economy. This growing industry offers significant potential for job creation across all regions of the country. Federal policies on matters ranging from national security to transportation and from trade to natural resources management affect travel and tourism, and its potential for growth. In a global economy, a range of businesses depends on travel and tourism policies to enable clients, customers, and colleagues to conduct business in the United States. In addition, ensuring that international visitors have a positive experience in America is an essential component of public diplomacy and U.S. foreign policy.

For example, in 2011, the travel and tourism industry generated $1.2 trillion and supported 7.6 million jobs. Real travel and tourism spending grew 3.5 percent in 2011, outpacing the 1.7 percent growth rate for the economy as a whole.

As a travel destination, no other nation can compete with the diversity of experiences found across the United States and its territories with its public lands, waters, and iconic cultural and historic sites.

In fact, the United States leads the world in revenues from international travel and tourism and ranks second in the number of international visitors.

While the United States has set records for international visitation, the global travel market has become increasingly competitive. Other countries actively market themselves, and new destinations are aggressively competing for market share.

The U.S. government plays a unique role in creating a positive environment for private sector job growth in the travel and tourism industry while protecting resources, travelers, and the public.

International travelers require services when they apply for a U.S. visa, enter the country, visit federally managed sites, and navigate through the Unites States’ transportation systems. The quality of these services will enhance or detract from the image of the United States as a travel destination and impact its ability to compete globally.

The National Travel and Tourism (NTT) Strategy establishes an overarching goal of increasing American jobs by attracting and welcoming 100 million international visitors, who are estimated to spend $250 billion, annually by the end of 2021.

It is important to encourage the Americans to travel within the United States and its territories to see all that the country has to offer. The United States can achieve this goal by:

Promoting the United States

Federal agencies can take action to capitalize on the growing demand for travel and tourism in the United States by creating a positive and welcoming message for international visitors. The government can expand its promotional efforts to market the United States as a travel destination by providing senior administration spokespeople and content on the diversity of attractive tourist sites within federal jurisdiction. Using authorities, messengers, and outlets—including agency websites, social media tools, embassies and consulates, and high-profile officials—the government can communicate the tourism opportunities in America to a larger domestic and international audience. Opportunities need to be created to access federal data and use technology to enhance and tailor information for visitors to identify destinations and plan trips to and within the United States.

Enabling and Enhancing Travel and Tourism to and Within the United States

Federal agencies can take specific actions with the aim of reducing institutional barriers to the free flow of trade in travel services; expanding the Visa Waiver Program (VWP); enhancing U.S. visa processing to meet the expected growth in demand; expanding trusted traveler programs and expedited screening initiatives; and improving the processes for arrival and aviation security screening, while ensuring the security of the United States’ borders and the safety of the traveling public. They can continue to innovate and make improvements in processes, technologies, staffing, and infrastructure to streamline the visa application process and entry into the country through border crossings and ports of entry, for legitimate travelers. Wider deployment of airport security screening technologies and investments in aviation infrastructure will further improve the passenger screening and overall travel experience for domestic and international air travelers. In addition, the government will continue to use its discretionary grant programs to make strategic investments in transportation infrastructure to enable safer and more efficient movement between destinations throughout the country.

Providing World-Class Customer Service and Visitor Experience

The government will take steps to ensure a high-quality experience for travelers that will inspire repeat visitation and positive word-of-mouth advertising. The government will support workforce development initiatives and small businesses to ensure that federal and private-sector workers are equipped to effectively serve and maximize business opportunities with a diverse audience of visitors. The government pilots innovative ways to use technology to provide information and interpret content for non-English-Speaking visitors by taking advantage of technologies such as smartphones and translation applications, provide fresh, dynamic content in the most in-demand languages, and will be able to reassess and respond continually to a new language and information needs.

Coordinating Across Government

Federal agencies must work together and with public and private partners to maximize the potential of travel and tourism to create jobs. The federal government will continue to prioritize its support for travel and tourism and will take steps to better coordinate federal policies and programs by reinvigorating the Tourism Policy Council, by engaging more deliberately with partners and by encouraging coordinated federal participation in public–private tourism collaborations. In addition, the Department of Commerce will establish a national travel and tourism office to provide leadership and focus within the federal government.

Conducting Research and Measuring Results

Public and private parties need up-to-date information to make smart decisions about policies and investments. The federal government can work with the travel and tourism industry and academic researchers to conduct high-quality research on travel and tourism issues and trends,

To inform public and private decision-making. Performance metrics and accountability measures will be used to ensure continual progress on the important goals and strategies outlined in this the National Travel and Tourism Strategy.

To ensure success, federal agencies must continue to make travel and tourism a priority, coordinate efforts with one another, and work with partners in a collaborative effort to meet future demand. These efforts will significantly strengthen economic opportunity and job creation in the travel and tourism industry. Upon delivery of this National Travel and Tourism Strategy, federal agencies can immediately begin to develop detailed implementation plans to realize the promise of these recommendations.

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This chapter contains text excerpted from the following sources: Text in this chapter begins with excerpts from Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Spotlight, SelectUSA, U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), May 27, 2016; Text beginning with the heading Overview of Travel and Tourism is excerpted from National Travel & Tourism Strategy, International Trade Administration (ITA), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), May 10, 2012. Reviewed April 2020.

Chapter 2 | Travel Epidemiology

Travelers are an epidemiologically important population because of their mobility, their potential for exposure to diseases outside their home country, and the possibility that they may serve as a conduit for disease from one country to another. In the past ten years, for example, travelers have faced newly emerging threats, including Ebola virus, chikungunya fever, and Zika virus. The evolving epidemiology of diseases, the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial drug resistance, and the development of new vaccines and prophylactic treatments have each contributed to creating the ongoing need for surveillance of international travelers.

The risk of travel-related illnesses varies depending on destination and traveler characteristics. Existing information regarding the actual risk for travelers (often expressed as the number of events per 100,000 travelers) is limited for several reasons. It is difficult to obtain an accurate numerator (number of cases of disease among travelers) and denominator (number of travelers overall or travelers to a specific destination who are susceptible to infection). To calculate a true risk for a traveler, scientific studies would have to document the number of travelers susceptible to that disease or condition and the number of those affected during a specific period of time. If the illness is mild, the traveler may never seek healthcare, or clinicians might not perform diagnostic tests to identify the cause accurately. Furthermore, because travelers often visit multiple destinations, it could be difficult to determine the location where the exposure occurred and attribute risk to that location.

Frequently quoted studies on the incidence of infection in travelers use a variety of methodologic designs, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, making findings difficult to compare or combine. These studies have examined, for the most part, only a few key diseases or conditions, combining all travelers regardless of destination. Many have been single-clinic or single-destination studies that lead to conclusions that are not generalizable to groups of travelers with different local, national, or cultural backgrounds.

Healthcare providers must understand the epidemiologic features of the traveling population to guide pretravel recommendations and posttravel evaluations. The characteristics of travel-related diseases must be considered, including mode of transmission, incubation period, signs and symptoms, duration of illness, and diagnostic testing. The presence, frequency, seasonality, and geographic distribution of the disease need to be assessed; these might change over time because of outbreaks, emergence or reemergence in new areas or populations, successful public-health interventions, or other factors.

Data on disease incidence in local populations could identify the most important diseases to monitor within a country, but the relevance of such data to travelers—who have different risk behaviors, eating habits, accommodations, knowledge of preventive measures, and activities—is usually limited. Surveillance data that focus on travelers or on illnesses that affect travelers are, therefore, more useful in describing travel-related disease patterns and risks.

Two existing networks provide data on the demographics of U.S. international travelers and the acquisition of travel-related illness. Global TravEpiNet (GTEN) is a consortium of health clinics across the United States that provide pretravel health consultations; data from GTEN provide a snapshot of the types of travelers seeking pretravel healthcare and their travel practices, as well as longitudinal cohort data on risk and acquisition of travel-associated conditions. The GeoSentinel Global Surveillance Network, a worldwide data collection and communication network composed of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) travel and tropical medicine clinics, collects posttravel illness surveillance data. GeoSentinel analyzes this data to describe the relationships between travel and travel-related illness in specific subpopulations of travelers.

Familiarity with the epidemiology and prevalence of travel-related infections, coupled with demographic information on travelers and their particular travel details, can help clinicians provide optimal health-related information and advice. Clinical networks and surveillance systems provide epidemiologic data on new and prevalent global infectious disease threats. Improved collaboration between travel health providers and the travel health clinical networks is needed to further expand and develop the evidence base in this field; this will allow for better-informed preparation before travel and enhanced clinical awareness of travel epidemiology for clinicians seeing patients before and after travel.

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This chapter includes text excerpted from Travel Epidemiology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), June 21, 2019.

Chapter 3 | Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel

Whatever is your reason for traveling internationally, be prepared when it comes to your health—and the health of others—before, during, and after travel.

Before You Go

Take steps to prepare for your travels abroad and anticipate issues that might arise.

Know your health status before you make travel plans. When you are sick you can spread diseases to others. Postpone your travel and stay home when you are sick.

Check your destination to get country-specific health advice. Depending on where you will be going and what you will be doing, you may need vaccinations or medicines before you leave.

Make an appointment with your doctor at least a month before you leave. Work with your doctor to evaluate your health and the health of those planning to travel with you. Visit the doctor:

To know what vaccines and medicines you need (and are safe for you to take) depend on many factors specific to you. Give your doctor all the details they need to make the right travel health recommendations for you. Provide them with information such as where you will be traveling, how long you will be gone, what activities you will be doing, and your medical history like—if you have recently had surgery, a heart attack, a stroke, a history of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or pulmonary embolism (PE), or if you are traveling with a disability, a weakened immune system, or a chronic illness.

Before you travel, to have a medical procedure in another country:

Consider travel insurance.

Trip cancellation insurance. Trip cancellation insurance covers the financial investment in your trip.

Travel health insurance. If your health insurance policy does not cover you while you are traveling (not all do—please check in advance), consider purchasing additional insurance. Otherwise, if you need to go to a hospital or clinic overseas, you will probably be asked to pay out of pocket for any services.

Medical evacuation insurance. If you become ill or injured in remote areas or in countries where medical care is not up to U.S. standards, medical evacuation insurance will cover the cost of transporting you to a place where you can receive high-quality care.

Register for the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This free service provides travelers from the United States with important safety information in your destination and helps the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.

Pack smart.

Pack for a healthy trip. A complete travel health kit includes first aid items, sunscreen, insect repellent, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, and all your prescription medicines.

If you take any medicines regularly, pack enough for your whole trip plus a little extra, just in case.

Check with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate of the country you will be visiting to make sure your prescription medicines are permitted there. Not all medicines, even if they are prescribed by a doctor, are legal in all countries.

During Your Trip

Avoid road accidents. Accidents involving motor vehicles are the number one cause of preventable deaths of Americans abroad.

Always wear your seat belt, only ride in vehicles that have seat belts, and put children in car seats.

Hire a local driver when possible or ask your hotel for a trustworthy driver or taxi company.

Never ride with a driver who has been drinking.

Avoid riding on overloaded buses.

Avoid traveling at night and alone.

Prevent bug bites. Mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and some flies can spread diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and Lyme disease, all of which can have severe consequences.

Use The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.

Eat and drink safely.

Eat only food that has been fully cooked and served hot.

Do not eat fresh vegetables or fruits unless you can wash or peel them yourself.

Drink only bottled, sealed beverages, and avoid ice—it is likely to be made with tap water.

Prevent sunburn.

Pack sunscreen that provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays.

When using sunscreen and insect repellent, apply sunscreen first. Let it dry, and then apply repellent. Reapply both as instructed.

Be aware of your physical safety.

Follow local laws and customs.

Limit alcohol intake.

Wear protective gear during adventure activities, such as helmets when biking or climbing.

Use caution when swimming and during water activities.

Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.

Do not go barefoot. Consider protective footwear when swimming in open water to avoid injuries that could lead to infection. Even on beaches there may be animal waste that can be a source of human infections.

Be aware of local weather conditions and forecasts.

Watch for large waves, strong tides, and signs of rip currents.

Supervise children at all times near and in water.

Avoid animal bites. Do not pet or handle animals. Even kittens and puppies can spread disease.

If an animal bites, scratches, or licks you, wash the area immediately and thoroughly with soap and water.

Call a doctor to find out if you need medication, a tetanus vaccine booster, or rabies preventive treatment.

Prevent sexually transmitted infections. Always use condoms with new sex partners.

If you get sick or injured during your trip,

If on an airplane or a cruise ship, tell a crew member immediately.

If at your destination, see getting a healthcare abroad fact sheet or find a clinic abroad through the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country you are visiting.

If you are involved in a natural disaster during your trip,

Seek advice from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Learn in advance if your destination is at increased risk for certain natural disasters. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) (travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html) Country Information page. Enter the name of your destination in the Learn about your destination search box. When you land on the country-specific information page, scroll down to Local Laws & Special Circumstances. Click on the heading to expand the content. There you will find information about natural disasters typical to that country (among other relevant topics).

After Travel Tips

After travel, sometimes people come home with more than souvenirs. Fortunately, most after-travel illnesses are mild, such as a head cold or an upset stomach. However, other travel-related illnesses may be more serious, and symptoms may not show up until long after you get home.

Visit Your Doctor if Needed

Seek medical attention if you are not feeling well after your trip, whether you have diarrhea, skin problems, trouble breathing, or other issues.

Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. This information will help your doctor consider infections that are rare or not found in the United States. Some details to include:

Your vaccination history

What you did on your trip (activities, missionary work, medical work)

How long you were gone

Where you stayed (hotel, private home, tent)

What you ate and drank

Whether you were bitten by bugs or bitten, scratched, or licked by animals

Whether you swam in freshwater

Whether you received healthcare abroad

Any other possible exposures to infections such as sexual encounters, tattoos, piercings, or injuries that broke the skin

You may talk to an infectious-disease doctor or travel medicine specialist.

Beware of Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. It is serious and can be deadly. After you have left an area with malaria, it is very important that you continue taking your antimalarial drugs as prescribed:

Weekly for four weeks if you are taking doxycycline, chloroquine, or mefloquine

Daily for seven days if you are taking atovaquone or proguanil or primaquine

One weekly dose if you are taking tafenoquine

Malaria symptoms usually develop within 30 days, but they could appear up to a year after exposure. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or up to one year after you return home, you should seek immediate medical attention and tell the clinician your travel history. Since malaria can be a medical emergency, your doctor must rule out malaria if you have been in an area with malaria risk within the past year. A fever could be from malaria even if you took antimalarial medicine, because the medicine, while very effective, is not 100 percent effective.

After travel, if you are not feeling well, seek medical attention, and tell the healthcare provider where you traveled.

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This chapter contains text excerpted from the following sources: Text beginning with the heading Before You Go is excerpted from Your Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), March 10, 2020; Text under the heading After Travel Tips is excerpted from After Travel Tips, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), November 14, 2019.

Chapter 4 | Travel Safety and Security Tips

Chapter Contents

Section 4.1—General Safety and Security Tips during and after Travel

Section 4.2—Tips When Traveling to a Different Country

Section 4.3—Health and Safety Responsibilities for a Business Traveler

Section 4.4—Crisis Abroad: Be Ready

Section 4.5—Injuries That Can Be Caused during Travel

Section 4.1 | General Safety and Security Tips during and after Travel

This section includes text excerpted from 8 Ways to Prevent Sickness or Injury during Travel, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), January 30, 2020.

Eight Ways to Prevent Sickness or Injury During Travel

1. If You Are Sick, Do Not Travel

Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect your family and yourself from getting sick. Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially before eating.

If soap and water are not available, clean hands with hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.

Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.

If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

2. Road Accidents

Accidents are the number one cause of injury and death among Americans while traveling.

Always wear a seat belt and do not ride in vehicles that do not have seat belts.

When possible, hire a local driver. Ask your hotel for a trustworthy driver or taxi company.

Do not ride with a driver who has been drinking.

Do not drink and drive.

Do not travel on overloaded buses or minibuses.

Avoid traveling at night.

Avoid traveling alone and try traveling as a group.

3. Prevent Bug Bites

Bugs, including mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and some flies, can spread diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and Lyme disease, all of which can have severe and lasting consequences.

Use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents that is right for you with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.

You can also spray clothing with permethrin or another EPA-registered insecticide for more protection. Do not use permethrin on skin.

If you can, stay in hotels or resorts that are well screened or air-conditioned.

4. Avoid infections

Infections are transmitted by blood or body fluids, such as viral hepatitis and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV).

Always avoid close contact with sick people.

Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use a 60 percent or greater alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Always use condoms while having sex to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Avoid getting tattoos or piercings abroad. If you do want to get one, make sure the facility is not re-using needles.

If you need injections or medical procedures abroad make sure the facility is using sterile equipment and check with the embassy if they need a recommendation for where to go.

5. Food and Drinking Water Safety

Eat only food that has been fully cooked and served hot.

Do not eat fresh vegetables or fruits unless you can wash or peel them yourself.

Drink only bottled, sealed beverages, and avoid ice—it is likely to be made with tap water.

6. Be Safe Around Animals

Avoid animal bites by not handling or petting animals, including dogs and cats.

If you are bitten, scratched, or licked by animals wash the area immediately with soap and water.

Call a doctor and determine if medication or rabies postexposure vaccinations are needed, or if you need to update your tetanus shot.

7. Sun Safety

Use sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection.

Always apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent.

8. Physical Safety

Follow local laws and customs.

Limit alcohol intake.

Wear protective gear during adventure activities (helmets for biking, rappelling, etc.).

Use caution when swimming or visiting bodies of water.

Do not swim in freshwater.

Keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot, especially on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Be aware of local weather conditions and forecasts.

Watch for large waves, strong tides, and signs of rip currents.

Children should be supervised by an adult at all times near and in water.

Section 4.2 | Tips When Traveling to a Different Country

This section contains text excerpted from the following sources: Text in this section begins with excerpts from Safety and Health during International Travel, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), July 9, 2019; Text beginning with the heading Before Travel is excerpted from Safety and Security Overseas, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), June 24, 2019.

In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of U.S. residents traveling to countries where they are at risk of contracting infectious diseases. Depending on the country visited, travelers are potentially exposed to hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, malaria, meningococcal disease, yellow fever, cholera, poliomyelitis, encephalitis, rabies, and other diseases.

The failure of travelers to receive preventive medication results in unnecessary illness, medical expenses, and the potential spread of contagious diseases within their local communities.

Precautions to Be Taken Irrespective of the Destination

Wash hands often with soap and water.

Because motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers, walk and drive defensively. Avoid travel at night if possible and always use seat belts.

Do not eat or drink dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.

To avoid acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (AIDS, hepatitis B and C, syphilis) do not have sexual contact with people whose health status is unknown or uncertain.

Eat only thoroughly cooked