Holiday Health and Safety Information

Health advice for before you go

1. Don't rely on Form E111. It only covers emergency medical treatment and it doesn't cover dental emergencies at all, unless they are life threatening. Make sure you have good quality health insurance. It doesn't have to cost the earth. See our questions page.
2. The Department of Health produces a booklet - 'Health Advice for Travellers' (T5). It is available from most Post Offices and online at open.gov.uk
3. Seek advice about vaccinations at least 6 - 8 weeks before you travel and take your vaccination certificate on with you on holiday.
4. Pack any medication in your hand luggage.
5. Carry a spare doctor's prescription for your medication in a separate bag. Note the generic names of prescription drugs as brand names may vary abroad.
6. Take a prescription for your glasses and a small first aid kit.

1. Reduce dehydration by drinking water and cutting down on alcohol and coffee during the flight.
2. Take your shoes off when you are seated to let your feet breathe.
3. Stretch your legs every hour and wriggle your toes and ankles to keep the blood circulating.
4. Consider travel sickness pills / wrist bands (see the article below)
5. Suck boiled sweets or yawn to stabilise popping ears.
6. Sit as near the front of the plane as possible - the air is 'fresher'.

1. If you or any of your party requires emergency treatment, make sure you call your travel insurer's emergency helpline as soon as is practical and take their advice. If you don't, they may refuse to pay for any treatment required.
2. If malaria tablets are required, make sure you take them whilst on holiday and complete the course when you return home.
3. Use insect repellent. You may need a different repellent for children.
4. Mosquitoes can carry 80 different diseases. They like to feed in the early evening. Cover arms, legs and feet, avoid wearing black (they are attracted to black) and try not to spend time near stagnant water.
5. Spray rooms with insecticides before you go out for an evening meal (remembering to shut doors and windows afterwards).
6. Burn insect repellent tablets and coils at night. These are much cheaper in larger foreign supermarkets than in the UK.
7. Don't scratch bites - they will become inflamed and infected, and could scar. Soothe them with antihistamine cream, calamine lotion and ice. Menthol spray reduces itching and arnica cream reduces inflammation.
8. If bites begin to turn nasty seek medical advice immediately.
9. Unless you're sure it's safe, don't drink the water. This advice includes not eating ice-cream or having ice in your drinks and don't eat salads or shell fish, which are usually washed in tap water. Drink boiled or bottled water or use purifying tablets (available from online for £2.39 from Pharmacy2u). bedrijven Ninove
10. Beware of food left uncovered on display at room temperature - that includes buffets and the sweet trolley.

1. Use a sunscreen with a high SPF (at least 15) and re-apply every two hours. If you choose not to do this for your whole holiday you should do so for at least for the first few days.
2. You get no extra protection from applying a low factor sun cream twice - two SPF7s do not equal SPF14!
3. Remember sunscreen alone is not enough, and is of little benefit if you only use it to be able to sunbathe for longer.
4. The sun is at its strongest between 11am and 3pm. Try to avoid being in the sun during this period.
5. If you must be in the sunlight during this period (for example, if you're on a trip) wear loose fitting clothing made from tightly woven materials, such as cotton, and a sun hat.
6. Protect yours and your children's eyes with proper sunglasses. Look for the kitemark.
7. Being in or around water increases your chances of burning due to reflection. Use waterproof sunscreen and re-apply after swimming.
8. Take extra care with children. They should wear waterproof sunscreen and T-shirts when swimming. You can also buy children's beachwear designed to give greater sun protection.
9. When you apply insect repellent over sunscreen you stop the sunscreen sticking to your skin, and cut the effectiveness of both by at least half. If you need both either buy a sunscreen with built in insect repellent (200ml of SPF8 is available online from Boots Wellbeing for £7.69) or wear a higher factor sunscreen next to your skin, with a generous layer of insect repellent over the top.
10. Don't use old sunscreens, their effectiveness decreases dramatically after they have past their use by date.
    
    

PHA does not accept responsibility for the validity or accuracy of the information published which has been obtained from third party websites and/or literature in good faith and was current as at 1st September 2003. We would strongly urge you to check with the individual company concerned to obtain the most current position.