Travel Clinic - Total Health Pharmacy

With cheap flights and a world to explore, it has never been easier to travel abroad, whether for the annual 2 week break or for a long weekend or mid week break.
Travelling abroad can expose you to risks due to a difference in the weather, food or culture of the country you are visiting.
It is advisable to be well prepared and to help you we have prepared some advice on what to consider before you go.

Medical Matters

Vaccination
• 8 to 12 weeks before you travel, check with Total Health Pharmacy what vaccinations you need for the country you are visiting. If you haven’t left enough time, talk to the Pharmacist about how to reduce your risk of infection—some protection is better than none.

Malaria
• One of the biggest travel risks is from Malaria. Treatments vary depending upon which country you are visiting.
• Check with Total Health Pharmacy if there is a malaria risk in the country you are visiting. Advice changes regularly, so make sure you have the most up to date information. Total Health Pharmacy can advise on the best course of anti-malarial drugs and how to use them before, during and after your holiday.
• Some anti malarial medication needs to be taken up to 2 weeks prior to travel. Ask for advice and plan your treatment to maximise your protection.
• On return to the UK, if you develop a fever or unexplained illness up to a year after you have travelled, visit the Doctor and inform them that you have been abroad.

Prescription Medication
• Ensure that you have adequate supplies of your prescription medication for your trip.
• Find out if there are any restrictions on taking your medicines abroad. If you are given medication whilst you are away, try to find out if it is legal to bring it back into the UK and if you are in doubt, declare it at Customs on your return. Find out from the relevant Embassy, contact the Home Office Drugs Branch on 020 7035 0472 or log on to www.drugs.gov.uk
• Ensure medicines are carried in clearly and correctly labelled containers and carry a record of your medication. Obtain a copy of your repeat prescription from your Doctor.
• In the case of contraception, effectiveness may be reduced if you have been affected by sickness or diarrhoea. Pack additional protection such as condoms.

Medical Conditions
• Keep a written record of any medical conditions that you have and consider wearing a medical ID necklace or bracelet for chronic conditions, which can be obtained from Total Health Pharmacy.

First Aid
• A first aid kit is useful to pack. Total Health Pharmacy can supply basic kits and also those which include sterilised medical equipment.
• Essential holiday medication includes;
º Antihistamine tablets and creams for bites and allergic reactions
º Anti-diarrhoeal medication including rehydration salts
º Antiseptic creams
º Hydrocortisone cream (10 years plus) for allergies and bites
º Anti-fungal creams for thrush infections and sweat rash
º Painkillers including Calpol for children and paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen depending on what you can take,
º Plasters
º Cold sore medication as sunlight is a trigger
º Indigestion remedies to deal with holiday excess
º Sun lotion with the appropriate sun factor

Sunburn
• If you follow the Sun Smart advice you should greatly reduce your risk of sunburn. However if you do become burnt or even a little red, Calamine lotion will cool the skin and reduce itching. There are also many aftersun lotions and sprays which will both cool and moisturise the skin.
• Sunburnt skin should be kept cool, DO NOT put oils and creams on the area as this can intensify the burn. A cool shower or lukewarm bath can help.
• If you have run out of lotion a quick remedy to cool the skin is plain yoghurt liberally applied.
• In the case of sunburn, drink plenty of fluids but avoid alcohol and avoid further exposure to the sun.

Upset Tummy
• A change of climate, foreign food and water can cause tummy upsets and diarrhoea. Give your body time to adjust.
• Avoid eating unwashed fruit and vegetables, drink and clean your teeth with bottled water and avoid shellfish, soft ices, ice cubes and food that has been lying around in the heat, buffet style. Ensure that food is piping hot and meat well cooked.
• In the case of diarrhoea, a rehydration mixture such as Diarolyte will replace lost fluids. If diarrhoea lasts for more than 3 days, you should seek medical advice. Speak to the Pharmacist about the use of anti-diarrhoeal drugs such as
loperamide.

Things that Bite
• Reduce the risk of insect borne diseases by using insect repellents and wearing long sleeved clothes where possible.
• Use insect repellants containing Deet.
• Natural balms containing citronella and bite pens to deal with bites once they occur can be useful additions to your handbag or First Aid kit. Taking Vitamin B Co Strong may also help to repel insects as they don’t appear to like the taste!
• Take local advice about safe places to visit and swim to avoid other dangers such as snakes, spiders and jelly fish.
• Rabies may be a risk in some countries so always seek medical attention if you are licked on the face or bitten by an animal whilst abroad.

Travel

Fear Of Flying
• If you are scared of flying there is medication that you can take to help. Speak to your GP or Pharmacist.
• Other methods to help reduce the fear associated with flying include homeopathy, hypnotherapy and relaxation techniques.

Travel Sickness
• If you suffer from travel sickness, speak to the Pharmacist about medication that can help. Be aware that most cause drowsiness.
• Seabands, which are worn on the pressure points of the wrist can also help and a travel balm rubbed into the temples of the forehead may bring some relief.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• DVT, although rare, can be caused by sitting for long periods of time such as when travelling. To reduce the risk do some simple exercises, rotating your ankle and wiggling your toes and walk around if you can.
• Drink plenty of non alcoholic drinks and consider in-flight socks which aid the circulation in your legs.
• Aspirin can be used as an anti-thrombosis medication for flights of greater than 4 hours. Take advice on the safe use of aspirin as it is not suitable for everybody.

Be Safe

Insurance
• Make sure you have adequate travel insurance to cover personal liability, injury and medical costs, loss, theft and cancellation. Many companies offer competitive policies, including supermarkets, so shop around.
• If you are travelling to an European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive free or reduced cost medical treatment. To check if you are eligible and for the countries classified as EEA, phone 0845 606 2030 or get a form from the Post Office.
• Read your insurance policy carefully—many policies are invalid without an EHIC.

General Safety
• It’s a good idea to keep a list of important numbers with you in case of emergency e.g. the local emergency services number, the representative of the travel company, your travel insurer and the British Consulate for the area you are visiting.
• Leave details of your travel dates, travel company and insurance policy with friends or family. Also leave a copy of your passport ID page in case yours is lost or stolen.
• Familiarise yourself with the local laws and customs as penalties in other counties for breaking the law or disrespecting customs can be severe.
• For up to date advice on whether or not it is safe to visit a country, call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 0845 850 2829 or check www.fco.gov.uk

Advice on safe travel abroad can be found on the
following websites*

www.dh.gov.uk
www.traveldoctor.co.uk
www.fco.gov.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/holiday

Travel Checklist

• Do you have a valid passport covering the whole holiday period?
• Fill in the back page of your passport with details of who can be contacted in an emergency
• Buy a good travel guide
• Remember your current valid UK driving licence if you are intending to drive abroad
• Do you have the correct currency for the country you are travelling to? You may need to order this in advance
• Have you got travel insurance arranged?
• Have you got an EHIC card?
• Do you need a vaccination for you holiday. Ask your pharmacist for advice
• Do you have enough prescription medication for your holiday?
• Sun lotion with SPF factor appropriate for your skin
• First aid kit including essential medication
• Don’t forget a travel adaptor
• Have you cancelled the milk and papers and arranged for your post to be picked up?
• Leave contact details and details of your travel plans with a friend or family
• Above all, have a great holiday!