Vacations can be fun and exciting, but they also expose us to health and safety risks, many of which we might not encounter at home. According to our travel medicine specialists, you can greatly improve your chances of avoiding problems by preparing appropriately before you go, and by following some simple rules of thumb once you reach your destination.
- Before You Go Inoculations can be important, depending upon your destination. But there's much more to planning a safe, healthy vacation abroad than worrying about rare diseases. Something common is much more likely. Here's how to prepare.
- Trains, Planes, and Automobiles More vacations are derailed by jetlag, motion sickness, and automobile accidents than by cholera or malaria. Review these tips to avoid all three!
- If Trouble Strikes Precautions and tips if you become sick or injured while you're away.
Even those of us who stay close to home will face vacation health and safety risks this summer. Again, our travel medicine specialists advise preplanning as the best medicine of all. Answer these important questions to see if you're ready to have a safe vacation:
Kaiser Permanente offers these suggestions for building your basic Traveler's Medical Kit. Remember to add to it any items that might be made necessary by the nature of the activities you're planning or any special characteristics of your destination.
Vacation Health and Safety Resources on the Internet
From the federal government's Centers for Disease Control to a crusading
former flight attendant turned traveler advocate, we present a selection
of useful, fun, and interesting Web sites to help you get your safe, healthy
vacation under way.