HEALTH CONCERNS

• Please inform your chaperone and roommates of any health conditions you may have and information on your medications, so they are aware in case of an emergency situation.
• The most common health problem experienced, by those traveling to a foreign country, is traveler’s diarrhea. With careful attention to where and what one eats and drinks, the risk is minimal. We will heed the counsel of the host missionary in these matters.

• Overseas travel sometimes requires one type of preparation which might not excite you—SHOTS! Because of some diseases which are not common in the United States or Canada but can occur in other parts of the world, it is necessary to take proper precautions.

• Please check out the website, www.cdc.gov and search for your area of travel. This website is the Center for Disease Control. We recommend that you print off the list provided by searching your area and take the recommendations to your health care provider for consultation, and then make your decisions regarding what actions to take. You will want to make this appointment with your doctor as soon as is possible for you. Some vaccines require a length of time for complete inoculation.

• If you take any prescription medication, please bring enough with you to last through the trip plus a few extra, in case of any flight delays, etc.

• Wash hands often with soap and water. Carry “Wet Ones—Disposal Wipes” around in your bag.  After every activity, sanitize your hands.  This will be useful if a restroom is not available for you to wash your hands.

• Don’t eat or drink dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.

• Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables that you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.

• Never eat undercooked ground beef and poultry, raw eggs, or unpasteurized dairy products.

• Drink only bottled, boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.

• To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.

• Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors.

• Don’t drink beverages with ice.

• Don’t handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats) to avoid bites and serious diseases.