How to enjoy your holidays safely

August 12, 2022

Robert

Summer means sun, so regular sun protection will prevent sunburn and make the most of your vacation

Let’s see the guide, for safe vacations compiled by the member of the Scientific Committee of the ISA and the Region of Attica, Charilaos K. Koutis, MD, MPH, MSc, PhD, Medical Epidemiologist, Om. Professor of Hygienic Epidemiology & Public Health at the University of Western Attica.

Travel Planning

Public transport
Tickets travel time, personal protective equipment masks hats gloves disinfectants
Your car Check your car before the holidays. Strictly adheres to safe driving rules
Stop every 100 kilometers in an organized parking lot

Diet

Water – Food

Avoid drinking unregulated tap water and ice
Ask for your drink without ice. Do not drink soft drinks
Consume only boiled, peeled or well-washed vegetables and fruits
Drink bottled water if it is not safe from the mains
Meat and fish should be very well cooked
Avoid food and drink from street vendors or places where basic hygiene rules are not followed
Avoid serving from buffets where protective covers and cooling media are not used
Prefer food packaged with a label
Avoid consuming unpasteurized milk and dairy products
Avoid eating cold sauces that are not refrigerated
Don’t forget vulnerable people on vacation
Don’t forget to wash your hands well with soap
Drink plenty of fluids (especially children and vulnerable people)
Do not leave your dog alone in the car
food poisoning
The use of antidiarrheals is prohibited in children younger than 2 years. Children and the elderly get dehydrated very quickly from diarrhea

Sun

Avoid sun exposure during midday hours (12-4pm)
Do not expose yourself to the sun without sunscreen (with SPF >20), even when swimming
Everyone wear sunglasses and a hat
In prolonged exposure, wear long, light-colored, cotton clothing
Attention to small children and vulnerable people during their stay at sea

Altitude

The rapid rise in altitude can be accompanied by a feeling of easy fatigue, headache, nausea, insomnia and irritability, at an altitude above 2,500 meters.
Blood clots in the veins of the legs can occur on any trip longer than 10 hours. Walk to the stops, drink plenty of fluids, wear special elastic socks.

Sexual behavior

Avoid multiple sexual partners
Avoid sexual contact with strangers
Always wear a condom during sex

Sea

Children are very sensitive to changes in ambient temperature and solar radiation, and in unfamiliar surroundings. Protect children from the sun with special sunscreens. Wear them a hat. Light colored cotton clothing.

Do not dive alone.
Do not lie on the sand or dirt without a towel. Wear closed shoes when walking on wet soil or mud.
Wear beach shoes
Watch out for jellyfish.
Relax and ask for help if you get leg cramps in the sea
Do not swim on unfamiliar beaches alone

Insects – pests – animals

Do not pet unfamiliar animals. If you are bitten by an animal, disinfect the wound and seek medical attention.
All insect bites cause a local allergic reaction.

Dress appropriately, with long pants and closed-toe shoes, when walking in woods or tall grass.
Use insect repellents that contain DEET.
Shake clothes and shoes well before putting them on and sheets before lying down.

If you are bitten by an insect:

Disinfect the wound with an antiseptic.
Seek medical attention if you experience swelling or difficulty breathing, or if you are bitten by a tropical scorpion or spider.

Ticks attach to clothing or skin when walking in mostly forested areas. Flies can transmit germs.

Portable pharmacy

What it should contain:

Plain dressing 2.5 x 5 cm and 2.5 x 10 cm, non-sterile
Cotton, Gauze, Triangular bandage Hemostatic pressure bandage, Alcohol. Oxygen antiseptic solution
Tincture of iodine Antiseptic mercurochrome solution
Ammonia solution, Analgesic anti-inflammatory tablets and Analgesic anti-inflammatory ointment
Antacids, antidiarrheals, tablets, Antipyretics
Food Poisoning Tablets, Antihistamine Tablets and Ointment, Antimicrobial Eye Drops
Cortisone ointment for topical application, Sunscreen cream
Cream for healing skin burns
Anti-nausea tablets and laxatives
Electrolytes in powder, Normal serum
Sterile gauzes Self-adhesive gauzes
White plasterer Common scissors, tongs, safety guards
Ice pack Hemostatic hose Syringes of 2.5 and 5 ml. Thermometer, Adequacy of medicines for vulnerable people (especially if you go to islands or mountainous areas)
Useful telephone numbers in the area (Police, Health Center, Hospital, Pharmacies, Municipality, Medical Association, etc.).