Environmental Hazards:
Heat exhaustion and Dehydration: Heat exhaustion is characterized by dehydration and salt deficiency can lead to fatigue,
headaches and wooziness. Avoid it by drinking plenty of water, enough to keep you urine clear and eat salty foods. Wear a hat and sunglass
and all other necessary precautions to avoid the strong sun temperature. Sunburn: If it is easy for you to get sunburned, bring sunscreen
with you. Apply it liberally over you body often to avoid sunburns. If you get sunburned drink lots of fluids and apply Calamine or an
aloe-based lotion. Hypothermia and Frostbite: A fast drop in body temperature is a clear warning sign that you are overexposed to cold.
Victims may shiver, feel exhausted, have poor coordination or slurred speech, hallucinate or suffer amnesia. Seek quick medical help and
don't let the person fall asleep. To avoid hypothermia use proper cloth like wool and synthetics to retain body heat. Other fabrics like
cotton will make you colder. Watch for frostbite, a region of the skin turns white, waxy, and cold. Do not rub the area, drink warm beverages
and try to warm the area.
High Altitude:
If you are going to high altitudes you must allow you body to adjust to the lower levels of oxygen and remember that alcohol is more potent
at higher altitudes.
Insect-Borne Diseases:
There are many diseases that are transmitted by insects mainly, mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and lice. Beware of where you walk, always wear
long pants and sleeves, tuck your pants into the socks and buy a mosquito net. Follow the recommendations in case of getting any of these
insects on you.
Food and Waterborne Diseases:
Travelers in the US and Canada are less probable to contract a food related disease than other countries because of the water treatment
facilities and the restaurant standards. The tap water in the US and Canada is treated to be safe for consuming.
Traveler's Diarrhea:
Results from drinking untreated water, eating uncooked/contaminated food are common causes. You will experience nausea, urgency, and malaise.
The most dangerous side effect is dehydration; drink lots of water.
Hepatitis A:
A viral infection of the liver acquired through contaminated water.
Symptoms include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, dark urine, jaundice, vomiting, aches and pain, and light stools.
Ask your doctor about the right vaccine.
Parasites:
Giardiasis is present in untreated water from streams or lakes and causes a very difficult to treat intestinal disease.
Other infectious diseases: Rabies: It is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals. Fatal if untreated. By the time the symptoms appear the disease is in
its terminal stage. If you are bitten wash the wound, try to have the animal located and get the shots of the proper vaccine, consisting
of three shots over a 21 day period, but this is only semi-effective.
Hepatitis B: A viral infection of the liver transmitted via bodily fluids or needle sharing. Symptoms may not appear until years after
contracting the disease. Vaccinations are recommended for health care workers, active sexual travelers, and anyone planning to get
treatment abroad. These shots must be given six months before travel begins.
Hepatitis C: Like B, but the mode of transmission is different. Mostly drug users, those exposed to blood, hemodialysis patients, and
blood transfusions are the highest at risk, but these diseaseS can also be contracted by sexual contact, and sharing personal items like
razors, toothbrushes, etc.
AIDS, HIV, & STD:
AIDS is a growing problem around the world. The World Health Organization calculates approximately that there are over 30 million
infected people with HIV, woman consist of 40% of all new infections. In recent years the United States has curbed this disease
although around 900.000 Americans are infected.
Insurance:
Travel insurance generally covers four areas: medical/health problems, property loss, trip cancellation/interruption, and emergency
evacuation. Although regular insurance policies may extend themselves even when you travel it would be a good idea to purchase extra
insurance specific for the trip.
Medical Insurance often covers costs for whatever happens abroad. You must check with your provider. Medicare covers travel to Canada.
Canadians are covered by their home province's health insurance plan for up to 90 days after departing country. Check for specific details.
Homeowner's insurance covers theft during travel and loss of documents; passport, plane tickets, rail pass, etc. ISIC and ITIC offers basic
insurance protection including $100 per day of in hospital sickness for a maximum of 60 days, $3000 of accident related medical
reimbursement, and $25.000 for emergency medical transport. American Express grants most of its cardholder's automatic car rental insurance,
and ground travel accident of $100,000 on flight purchases made with the card.
Packing:
A well working rule is to take only what you need, then take half the cloths and twice the money. The less you carry the less you will loose,
plus any extra space you may have can be used to put the things you normally buy when traveling. After all this, don't forget to bring the
essentials: a warm jacket or wool sweater, a rain jacket, sturdy shoes or hiking boots, and thick socks. Flip-flops or waterproof sandals are
a must for those dirty hostel showers. If you still have some space you want to carry one nice set of clothes and a pair of shoes.
Sleep sacks. Some hostels require that you bring your own sleep sack or rent one of theirs. You can avoid this buy just sewing together
one extreme side of the sheet with the opposite one. Washing Clothes. Laundromats are common in North America, but it may be cheaper to
use a sink. Bring a bar of detergent and a small rubber ball to stop up the sink. Converters and Adapters. In the United States and Canada
electricity is 110V. Do not directly plug a 220V appliance in the 110V current. Visit a hardware store and get an adapter that fits in the
outlet and a converter, which regulates the flow of electricity into your appliance. Toiletries. Do not stuff yourself with things that
you can buy anywhere. Instead worry about contact lenses, which can be expensive and hard to find so bring extra pairs and a copy of the
prescription in case you need to replace the only pair that you have. Film. If you are not a serious photographer you may want to bring a
disposable camera or one that is not so expensive, because airport security x-ray can fog film. So ask the airport security if he can hand
inspect it or buy a lead-lined pouch sold at camera stores. First-Aid-Kit. No matter where and how you are traveling it s always good to
carry a first-aid kit, with all the necessary medical products that you might need. Bandages, aspirin, or another pain killer, antibiotic
cream, a thermometer, a Swiss army knife with tweezers, moleskin, decongestant for colds, motion sickness remedy, medicine for diarrhea or
stomach problems, sunscreen, insect repellent, burn ointment, and a syringe for emergency medical purposes. Get an explanatory letter from
the doctor.
Other useful items for safety purposes bring a money belt and a small padlock, and basic outdoor equipment.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS Don't forget your passport, traveler's checks,
ATM and/or credit cards, and adequate ID.
Also check if you have a hostelling membership card and a valid driver's license.
Hostel Finder
Documents & formalities
