Travel Health Tips for Students Studying Abroad

Transcription

1 Travel Health Tips fr Students Studying Abrad Study-abrad prgrams ffer students an exciting pprtunity fr learning and cultural exchange. Study-abrad prgrams are increasing in availability and gegraphic diversity; thus, students can expect t deal with cultures and envirnments that are very different frm their wn. Students may be at increased risk f illness r injury due t these cultural and envirnmental differences, such as climate extremes, the presence f certain insects, inadequate sanitatin, and prly lit rads. Travel t develping regins f the wrld, especially fr a perid f several weeks r mnths, can be particularly challenging. Few events can negatively impact the travel experience mre than becming sick r being injured while far away frm hme. T reduce health risks while studying abrad, the Centers fr Disease Cntrl and Preventin (CDC) recmmends the fllwing general guidelines fr students: Befre travel Be sure t check with a health-care prvider t make sure yu are upt-date with all rutine vaccinatins (i.e., measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, influenza, and pli). Diseases such as measles and mumps remain cmmn in many parts f the wrld, including sme develped cuntries. See a health-care prvider r a travel medicine specialist, ideally 4-6 weeks befre travel, t get any additinal vaccinatins, medicatins, r infrmatin yu may need t stay healthy abrad. If it is less than 4 weeks befre travel, yu shuld still see a health-care prvider since there may be sme vaccinatins, medicatins, r preventin infrmatin that culd be beneficial t yu. The sectin f the CDC

2 Travelers' Health website entitled Travel Medicine Clinics has infrmatin abut lcating a travel medicine specialist r a travel clinic. It is especially imprtant that yu cnsult a health-care prvider wh specializes in travel medicine if yu have a cmplicated travel itinerary (e.g., travel t rural areas f develping cuntries) r have a current medical cnditin that will need t be managed while abrad. Visit CDC's Travelers' Health website t educate yurself abut any disease risks and preventive measures fr the cuntries where yu plan t study. If yu are visiting a develping cuntry, yu are at greater risk fr illness r injury than thse wh travel t develped cuntries (e.g., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Western Eurpe), where the health risks are similar t thse fund in the United States. Prepare a travel health kit that includes an ample supply f yur prescribed medicatins in their riginal, clearly labeled cntainers (cpies f all prescriptins shuld be carried, including the generic names fr medicatins, and a nte frm the prescribing physician n letterhead statinery fr cntrlled substances and injectable medicatins); an antidiarrheal medicatin; alchl-based hand gel (cntaining at least 60% alchl); an antibitic fr self-treatment f mst causes f acute bacterial illness; a thermmeter; insect repellent if yu plan t study in r visit a trpical r subtrpical area; the name and telephne number f yur primary health-care prvider; a cpy f yur vaccinatin recrd. Familiarize yurself with basic first aid s yu can self-treat minr injuries. Learn hw t swim if yu are inexperienced and plan t participate in recreatinal water activities while abrad. Cnsider a health insurance plan r additinal insurance that cvers medical evacuatin in case yu becme sick r injured, if yur plan des nt already ffer this service. Infrmatin abut medical

3 evacuatin services is prvided n the U.S. Department f State web page, Medical Infrmatin fr Americans Traveling Abrad Identify in-cuntry health-care resurces in advance f yur trip in case f a medical emergency. This is especially imprtant if yu have a preexisting medical cnditin. The U.S. Department f State prvides links t U.S. Embassy r Cnsulate websites fr the cuntry r cuntries yu are visiting that can assist in lcating Dctrs/Hspitals Abrad. Several private travel medicine rganizatins prvide assistance in lcating medical care abrad; see Obtaining Health Care Abrad fr the Ill Traveler in CDC Health Infrmatin fr Internatinal Travel Register with the U.S. Department f State s Travel Registratin website, s the U.S. Embassy r Cnsulate in yur destinatin cuntry knws f yur whereabuts in the case f an emergency when it might be necessary fr a cnsular fficer t cntact yu. This registratin is especially imprtant if yu plan t stay abrad fr lnger than ne mnth, if yu will be visiting a cuntry that has an unstable plitical climate, r if there is a natural disaster, such as an earthquake r hurricane. While residing abrad T reduce yur risk f illness In develping areas, bil yur water r drink nly bttled water r carbnated (bubbly) drinks frm cans r bttles with intact seals. D nt drink tap water r funtain drinks r add ice t beverages. Avid eating salads, fresh vegetables and fruits yu cannt peel yurself, and unpasteurized dairy prducts. Eat nly fd that has been fully cked and served ht, and avid fd frm street vendrs. If living with a hst family, discuss any fd allergies r dietary preferences in advance. D nt tuch animals, including dmestic pets, and especially d nt tuch mnkeys, dgs, and cats, t avid bites and serius diseases (such as rabies and plague). If yu are bitten r scratched by any animal, get medical attentin right away, and immediately clean the wund well with large amunts f sap and water and a pvidneidine slutin, such as Betadine, if available. Wash yur hands ften with sap and water, especially befre meals and after ging t the bathrm. If sap and water are nt available and yur hands are nt visibly dirty, use an alchl-based hand gel (cntaining at least 60% alchl) t clean yur hands. Cleaning yur

4 hands ften with sap and water remves ptentially infectius material frm yur skin and helps prevent disease transmissin. If visiting an area where there is risk f malaria, use insect repellent and a msquit net fr sleeping, wear lng-sleeved shirts and lng pants utdrs between dusk and dawn, and make sure t take yur malaria preventin medicatin befre, during, and after yur trip, as directed. If yu are visiting a cuntry that has experienced an avian flu (bird flu) utbreak, avid pultry farms, bird markets, and ther places where live pultry is raised r kept. Fr mre infrmatin, see the webpage Guidelines and Recmmendatins: Interim Guidance abut Avian Influenza A (H5N1) fr U.S. Citizens Living Abrad. Be aware that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS, are amng the mst cmmn infectins wrldwide. The mst reliable way t avid transmissin f sexually transmitted diseases is t abstain frm sexual activity r t be in a lng-term mutually mngamus relatinship. Fr peple whse sexual behavirs place them at risk fr STDs, crrect and cnsistent use f latex r plyurethane cndms when engaging in sexual activity can greatly reduce a persn s risk f acquiring r transmitting STDs, including HIV infectin. Fr mre infrmatin see Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Fr yur safety Autmbile accidents are the leading cause f preventable deaths in travelers. Wear yur seat belt and fllw the lcal custms and laws regarding pedestrian safety and vehicle speed. Remember t check n what side f the rad peple drive, because this may differ in the cuntry r cuntries yu will be visiting. Use helmets when riding bicycles and mtrcycles. Remember nt t drink alchlic beverages and drive. The mst imprtant risk factr fr rad traffic injuries is the presence f alchl in the bld f a driver r pedestrian wh is injured. Be aware f the cultural impact f being invlved in r causing an accident that includes injury t the lcal ppulatin. In unfamiliar r freign envirnments, utilize a lcal driver. It is imprtant t nte the legal age fr driving varies by cuntry. Swim in well maintained, chlrinated pls, and nly if yu are an experienced swimmer. Drwning is als a leading cause f death in travelers.

5 If visiting an area which has risk f water-brne infectins (i.e., schistsmiasis), d nt swim in lakes r streams r ther fresh bdies f water. When spending time utdrs, wear sunblck fr prtectin frm harmful effects f UV sun rays. This is especially imprtant if yu are visiting trpical areas r areas in high altitudes. See Sunburn and Basic Infrmatin Abut Skin Cancer fr mre infrmatin. T prevent infectins such as HIV and hepatitis B, avid receiving tatts, bdy piercings, r injectins. After yur return On return frm study abrad, if yu are nt feeling well r have been injured, get medical attentin, including psychlgical supprt and cunseling, if necessary. It is especially imprtant fr yu t get health care if yu have a fever, rash, cugh r difficulty breathing, r any ther unusual symptms. If yu are returning frm malaria-risk areas and becme sick with a fever r flu-like illness, fr up t 1 year after yur return, get immediate medical attentin and be sure t tell the dctr r health-care prvider yur travel histry. Resurces frm CDC Fr mre infrmatin abut CDC health recmmendatins fr travel t specific destinatins, select the cuntry yu are visiting frm the Destinatins page. Fr mre infrmatin abut STDs and HIV, see CDC's Sexually Transmitted Diseases webpage and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in CDC Health Infrmatin fr Internatinal Travel 2010.

6 Other Resurces U.S. Department f State Study Abrad website (HTML nly versin) 2009 Internatinal Educatin Week website (U.S. Departments f State and Educatin) U.S. Department f State Bureau f Educatinal and Cultural Affairs U.S. Department f State fr Yuth U.S. Department f Educatin's U.S. Netwrk fr Educatin Infrmatin Institute f Internatinal Educatin Open Drs: Prvides Data n Study Abrad Participatin. Assciatin fr Safe Internatinal Rad Travel: Prvides resurces and infrmatin abut safe rad travel fr study abrad. Mbility Internatinal USA: Prvides resurces and supprt fr students with special needs with an interest in study abrad. Natinal Assciatin f Freign Student Advisers (NAFSA) This material was taken in part frm the Centers fr Disease Cntrl and Preventin (CDC):