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Having to deal with illness or injury while travelling abroad can be an overwhelming experience or even ruin the trip altogether. Having fun might lead to neglecting to look after yourself properly, such as by sacrificing your sleep or eating too much dubious street food. The excitement of being in a new environment will quickly turn into a feeling of vulnerability as you try to navigate being sick or injured in an unfamiliar place.

The key to minimizing travel health emergencies is to be prepared and take sensible precautions. Follow these six practical tips to stay healthy and safe during your adventures around the world.

  1. Do your homework 

Staying healthy while travelling abroad begins before you’ve even left home. Take the time to research your destination and learn about any potential health risks, such as malaria or dengue. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms for these common illnesses and how to best avoid them. If there are any recommended immunizations, take care of them right away with your doctor. Remember that many vaccines get administered over a series of weeks and should not be put off until too late.

  1. Be careful where you eat

Food-borne illnesses are every traveller’s nightmare because, unfortunately, it’s a widespread problem. Eating the wrong thing can cost you a full day or two of feeling ill and being unable to enjoy yourself. Avoid this nightmare by making sure you don’t eat any raw fruits or vegetables unless you are very confident about the establishment’s standards. Get the advice from locals before eating from any street food stand. Stay away from eating anywhere that doesn’t look clean and sanitary.

  1. Make arrangements for health coverage abroad

Before leaving for your trip, make sure you have an excellent health insurance plan that is valid overseas. Most people will need to purchase a travel insurance policy to be fully covered. Remember that many countries only offer adequate treatment at private hospitals. To find yourself unable to pay for necessary medical care while abroad would be a real crisis that you should avoid at all costs. A comprehensive plan will give you peace of mind that you will be taken care of in case of an emergency.

  1. Wash your hands frequently

One of the most common hazards for travellers is getting sick because they somehow ingested germs from something they touched. If you lived in the US you would be twice as likely to have HIV/AIDS. The number of people living with the illness is 0.6 per cent in the US and 0.3 per cent in Australia.

Make a strict habit of always washing your hands with soap and water before every meal. It’s also a good idea to carry some hand sanitizer or antiseptic wipes for a backup.

  1. Get adequate rest

The travelling lifestyle can be hectic because you’re walking a lot and doing many different activities. It’s only natural to make the most your time abroad, but letting yourself get worn down can lead to illness. Make sure you’re getting between 7 and 8 hours of sleep every night. Schedule in periods of downtime when you can rest and recharge your batteries.

  1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Drinking unsafe water can lead to a severe health crisis, as everyone should keep in mind. Dehydration can also be a serious problem, especially during physical activity, when it can cause you to feel dizzy or even collapse.

Make sure you drink plenty of water, especially on days with a lot of walking. Take your own water with you if you’re not sure about access to safe water during an outing. One unexpected travel hazard is the ice cubes that might be in your drink. They often aren’t made from bottled water and should be avoided altogether in destinations with inadequate water quality.