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We know that the thought of planning any trips may be stressful, especially with the ever-changing nature of regulations. However, wherever your travels are taking you – we are here to help. We previously created the ultimate travel health kit; we have now compiled this comprehensive travel health checklist, using our Neath-based services, to help you to jet off feeling reassured.
1. Make sure to pack plenty of SPF and sun protection
It is important to protect the exposed parts of your body from the sun’s damaging effects, both abroad and closer to home. This is because prolonged sun exposure often leads to sunburn, which increases your risk of developing skin cancer. In spite of popular misconceptions, it is possible to get burnt both abroad and closer to home; this is even true when the weather is cloudy, and you are in the UK. That is why we recommend daily SPF application.
It is also important to use alternative sun protection methods alongside sunscreen. These include sunglasses with CE Mark and British Standard Mark 12312-1:2013 E, as well as a wide-brimmed hat to shade your face. You can visit us for suncare advice, as well as all of the SPF and aftersun products you need!
2. Make sure you are up-to-date with your vaccinations
When travelling abroad, your body may be exposed to pathogens that it has not yet developed protection against. This can lead to infections such as Hepatitis A and Yellow Fever. In having any necessary vaccinations before you travel, you are allowing yourself to develop adequate protection against them in advance. You can find out which vaccinations you need for your destination of choice on the NHS Fit for Travel website.
3. Book your PCR tests in advance
As a result of the constant updating of red, amber and green travel lists, regulations vary between countries and airlines. You are obligated to take PCR tests both before and after your return to England. In the case of red and amber list countries, you are even required to isolate for 10 days following your return. That is why we recommend checking Government guidance regularly prior to your trip, so that you can make the necessary arrangements in plenty of time.
4. Make yourself aware of how to travel safely during Covid
Everyone is out of practice when it comes to travelling, in both a national and an international sense. If you are looking to travel during Covid, it is important to make sure that you have sufficient Covid PPE, as well as making sure to regularly wash and sanitise your hands as normal. It is also important that you are prepared for any Covid regulations in place within your destination country. You can find further guidance on adapting to your destination’s Covid rules on the Government website.
You should also take regular lateral flow tests in order to protect both yourself and those around you. However, if you begin experiencing symptoms you should instead take an NHS PCR test. If you are feeling stressed about travelling during Covid, there is no need to be worried. Our dedicated pharmacy team is here to advise you so that you jet off feeling reassured.
5. Make sure you consider any travel health concerns
If you are heading off on your travels, make sure you are aware of any potential travel health concerns. If you are worried about what to pack in your suitcase, why not check out our ultimate travel health kit in our latest blog post?
Moreover, if you or someone you are travelling with suffers from allergies, you should ensure to check that your accommodation is free from any potential allergens. You should also inform your airline of your allergy, as well as any restaurants that you plan on visiting. If there is a chance that you may be sexually active whilst you are away, you should ensure that you have plenty of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill and condoms, to avoid getting caught out. Also, any prescriptions should be ordered ahead of time; they can be collected using our 24 hour prescription collection robot. This allows you to get everything you need before you travel, at your convenience.
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If you are looking to travel, why not visit us in store to carry out your travel health checklist in Neath today!
This blog post was written on behalf of The Health Dispensary by Carla Moore from Pharmacy Mentor.
