Who wants to get sick on their trip this summer? No one ever in the history of Youthlinc! And you don’t have to. Here are some tips to prevent that very thing while you are overseas.
We all know not to drink the local water while overseas. And never drink from a stream, river, or lake. Animals (and sometimes people) poo here, passing on pathogens (disease causing germs). Drink only the water Youthlinc provides. But also brush your teeth with Youthlinc water, and watch out for ice cubes made from local water contaminating your otherwise safe soda! These measures will go a long way in preventing the dreaded DIARRHEA, nausea and vomiting illnesses.
You already know to WASH YOUR HANDS, we have been through Covid after all. But guess what, hand washing still works! Wash well and often. Soap and water is best but hand sanitizer is a good substitute. Hand washing will help prevent gastrointestinal illnesses (above) and respiratory illnesses (below). It is a top-notch prevention measure.
No one wants to catch a cold on their trip so PROTECT EACH OTHER! Always sneeze and cough into your elbow. If you are sick, and are really nice, wear a mask if you have a cold. Those nasty N95 and KN95 masks protect others from you and you from others. Another excellent way to protect yourself from respiratory illness is to NEVER TOUCH YOUR FACE! Germs enter your body through the mucous membranes in your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Dengue. Chikungunya. Zika. Yellow Fever. Malaria. Do these sound foreign and awful? They are. They are all transmitted by the evil MOSQUITOE. Apply sunscreen first (it needs to sink in) and then insect spray with 20%-30% DEET (it needs to be on the surface). Do this twice a day or more.
DON’T TOUCH THE ANIMALS! Not even those cute dogs. I am sorry. This is hard. But it will prevent rabies. If you are bitten by an animal you, and your medical mentor, will be stuck in a city hospital while you get treated for RABIES! The treatment is not fun and is not a totally effective cure for this usually fatal illness.
Finally, be sure all your immunizations are up to date, and visit a travel clinic to see what special things are needed for your destination.
Sounds like a lot, but it becomes routine and goes quickly. And you will be healthy for your trip!