HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY TRIP.

• Author: BAUMGARTEN, KATHERINE L.

To ensure that you bring nothing home from your travels but souvenirs, watch what you eat and steer clear of bugs that bite.

WHEN PLANNING to travel abroad, most people prepare by purchasing plane tickets making hotel reservations, and booking rental cars. However, many do not consider or plan for the health hazards they may encounter. If you are going abroad and want to spend your time seeing the sights rather than looking for bathrooms or for local physicians, keep reading and see your doctor at least one or two months prior to departure.

The degree of risk you might encounter while traveling will, of course, depend upon your destination. Areas that are similar to the U.S. include Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Hong Kong. Check to see when your passport expires, as well as whether or not a visa is required for your destination. Make an appointment for a physical and dental exam and be sure to bring your vaccination record with you. You need to be up to date on your routine vaccinations and may require additional shots, depending on the country where you will be going. Your physician can best determine which vaccines are appropriate for you.

Because pharmacies outside of the U.S. may carry strong and dangerous medicines that are available with no prescription, do not purchase or take any medications with out your physician's advice

Medication that you may want to bring with you depend on your anxiety, destination, state of health, and planned activities. If you have a chronic medical illness, you should carry a summary with details of that condition with you and extra prescription drugs. If you have a bee or wasp sting allergy, be sure to carry adrenalin pens. Remember also that the seasons are reversed south of the Equator, so you could need allergy medications out of your regular season. Nonprescription items that you may consider taking include aspirin or Tylenol for pain or fever, an antacid in case you should develop heartburn, an antibacterial ointment for minor skin abrasions or infections, sunburn remedies, and an antidiarrheal such as Imodium or Pepto Bismol. Cold and flu medicine is also a necessity, and consider bringing a first aid kit with Band-aids, a three-inch Ace bandage, and skin disinfectant,

Be aware of the climate and conditions that are present where you are going. Pack lightly. If you are going to mosquito-prone areas, you may need to take long-sleeve shirts and long pants, even if it is hot. A...