Blog Article

Your Travel Health Checklist ✅

Smarta Healthcare shares essential travel health advice to help people stay safe and well when travelling abroad. The blog covers key considerations such as managing prescription medication, protecting against insect bites, staying safe, preventing stomach illness and ensuring required vaccinations are up to date, encouraging travellers to plan ahead and book a travel health consultation before departure.

Planning your next trip abroad? There’s a lot to consider between arranging accommodation bookings, transport, packing, and don’t forget the last-minute search for your passport. Whether it’s a family holiday, a short business trip, or a backpacking adventure, make sure you consider your travel health needs.

At least four weeks before your departure, we recommend getting in touch with us to make sure you’re fully prepared. We can help with medication, vaccinations, recommended products or simply advice about what to expect at your destination.

Here’s some of our tips to help keep you protected during your trip abroad.

✅ Prescription medication

Make sure you order your prescription medications in plenty of time for your trip. You’re able to order a supply of medicine for up to three months. If you are travelling for a longer period of time, you’ll have to make arrangements to get your medicines from your destination country. Call us on 01234 831 768 to make sure you have enough medication for your trip.

Keep your medicines in their original packaging, make sure your full name, passport number and doctors name are on the labels, and take a copy of your prescription and a doctor’s letter with you.

You may want to research the generic (non-brand) names of the medicines; in case you need more during your trip. Our Smarta Healthcare pharmacists can help you with this.

Your medications should be taken in your hand luggage and not in your suitcase.

Some medications need to be kept at a certain temperature – you can use thermos flasks, cool bags or insulated packs to help keep them cool.

Keep in mind, some medications may be restricted in the country you are visiting, so it’s a good idea to check with the embassy of the destination country, before you arrive. You can find their contact details here.

✅ Insects

No one enjoys the itch that comes with a mosquito bite, but they can carry a far more serious risk of disease.

Try to avoid getting bitten by wearing loose clothing with long sleeves and trousers wherever possible.

Use insect repellent on any exposed skin during the day and night, and make sure you apply it regularly. Apply it after sun screen, if you’re using the two together.

Mosquito nets with insecticide can be used to protect you while you are sleeping.

Some destinations carry a risk of Malaria, a serious disease spread through mosquito bites. We can provide you with advice, and if necessary, malaria tablets for your trip. Call us to find out more: 01234 831 768

✅ Safety

When travelling abroad, it’s important to consider your safety and wellbeing. Don’t overlook using common sense, like wearing seatbelts, helmets, lifejackets, etc.

Seek advice from people who live in the area you’re visiting. Is it safe to walk around alone? What’s a reliable form of transport? What should I do if I have a problem? Local knowledge can help you get the most out of your trip, as well as making you a few friends along the way.

Be prepared for any possible medical expenses with comprehensive travel insurance that covers all the activities you’re planning, as well as flights home in the event of an emergency.

We also recommend packing a good quality first aid kit to help you with any minor injuries.

✅ Stomach troubles

New food or different hygiene standards can leave your stomach wishing you’d stayed at home.

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or use sanitiser or hand wipes if it’s not an option.

Travellers’ Diarrhoea can be unpleasant, though it usually only lasts a couple of days and can be managed by keeping hydrated and increasing salts and sugars in the diet. Hydration tablets or sachets can be bought in advance and added to drinking water to speed up recovery.

If you experience it for longer, or it’s accompanied with a fever or blood or mucus in your stool, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

At Smarta Healthcare, we can administer a traveller’s diarrhoea and cholera vaccination which can help protect you against infections caused by 2 types of bacteria. You can book your vaccination appointment on our website by clicking here

✅ Required and recommended vaccinations

Many destinations across the world require or recommend vaccinations. Click here to check the country you are visiting on our vaccination checker.

We administer the following vaccinations at our Bedford Health clinic:

Some vaccinations also require booster shots – check with us to make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date and ready to keep you protected.

You should keep a record of all your vaccinations and carry it with you whilst abroad.

✅ Be prepared

We can help you make the most out of your trip, and help protect you and your family.

Book you appointment with our friendly pharmacists and travel health experts: 01234 831 768

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