Health Advice when travelling

Stay healthy while you travel

Keeping well on tour isn't difficult - for the most part it requires a little bit of common sense. Most of the problems you'll face are easily preventable, for example putting on sunscreen, drinking bottled or treated water, washing your hands properly before eating and avoiding insect bites will save you a great deal of hassle.

However, if you have other concerns like exposure to malaria or other tropical diseases, altitude sickness, sea sickness or other issues, it is best to visit your doctor. We recommend that you see your travel health centre in person at least eight weeks before you travel, as you may need a course of medications or more than one vaccination.

A travel health professional can give you specific advice according to your unique medical needs and tour itinerary. If you're travelling for a long period of time, it's also a good idea to get a check up at the dentist and sort out your glasses prescription if you think it's changing.

Please note: The information available in the health advice websites listed below is intended as a guide only. Tucan Travel is not responsible for the content of any of the travel health websites listed below.

 

Altitude Sickness

 

Some destinations in the world reach awesome heights which can sometimes lead people to feel unwell. For more information about altitude sickness please read our guide

 

Travellers from the UK

 

National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)

Lots of in depth travel health advice including the latest health alerts from malaria to yellow fever. Very useful in conjunction with your itinerary and it can be a good idea to have a read before visiting your doctor.

http://www.nathnac.org/travel/index.htm

NHS Fit for Travel

This is the Scottish version of the NHS and has lots of useful advice from deep vein thrombosis to how to deal with an animal bite.

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

European Health Insurance Card

Apply for a free EHIC which offers you access to reduced-cost medical treatment. This is not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London

020 7950 7799

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

0906 701 0095 (Calls cost 50p per minute; calls from mobiles and some networks may be higher)

 

Travellers from Australia

 

Smart Traveller - Australian Govt Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The more prepared you are, the fitter and healthier you will be on tour. This site provides lots of good travel health tips for Australian travellers.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/travelwell.html

Travellers from USA and Canada

 

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, United States of America

This site offers addresses for travel health clinics in the USA as well as tips for how to prepare yourself to be healthy on your journey.

http://www.cdc.gov

Public Health Agency of Canada

Get some good tips about what to do if you get sick while travelling and what you should do on return to Canada.

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/index-eng.php (English)

Dont forget to make sure that your travel insurance covers general medical expenses, existing medical conditions, hospitalisations and medical evacuations