Travel Insurance Your Health

It s always important to stay on top of your health, especially when you travel.

Before you travel it s a good idea to consult your health care professional and discuss your itinerary, duration of travel and the style of travel.

If needed also discuss your past medical history, pregnancy, allergies, pre-existing medical conditions, vaccination requirements, disease vaccinations, disease prevention and medication.

Ensure that any medications taken with you are legal in the country you will visit - make sure you carry a letter of approval from your doctor/dentist for any essential medication you need to take with you.

If you re a long distance traveller you should regularly exercise the lower limbs to encourage blood flow and drink plenty of non-alcoholic drinks to prevent dehydration.

Always carry a small first-aid kit with you containing a packet of adhesive dressings, some insect repellent, antiseptic cream and water sterilisation tablets (this takes up little space and could be useful).

Unless you know the water you are using is safe (bottled water usually is), sterilise all drinking water either by boiling or using sterilisation tablets. It is unwise to have your skin pierced (ie. acupuncture, tattooing, ear piercing, etc.) unless you can be sure that the equipment used is sterile a needle wiped with an alcohol swab is not necessarily sterile.

And finally keep a note on you advising of any significant medical condition affecting you (eg. diabetes, angina pectoris, haemophilia).