Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/1481873
DREAMSCAPES FALL/ WINTER 2022 52 DS S P E C I A L F E A T U R E Watch your water play While waterfront beach resorts are both convenient and pic- turesque, travellers should also be aware of the risks associated with frolicking in the waves, Khatib says. "Swim where there are well-marked areas and lifeguards, and heed local advi- sories," she recommends. "Monitor your surroundings and weather changes, never swim alone, take frequent breaks, and do not swim if there is thunder or lightning." It is also important to wear life jackets, avoid drinking alcohol while using watercraft, and to wear reef shoes to avoid foot injuries. Mosquitoes be gone! According to Johal, climate change is also changing mosquito breeding patterns, making the transmission of diseases such as yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and malaria more unpre- dictable than ever. "With these unpredictable risks, mosquito precautions, medications and related vaccinations are more important than ever," he says, adding that store-bought mosquito repellent should be applied two to three times each day, and at least 10 minutes after sunscreen so as to ensure that the latter has been fully absorbed. Mind your "immunization gaps" "Most Canadian adults are not up to date with respect to their age- and risk-based vaccinations," Johal says. "These immu- nization gaps increase the chance of contracting diseases like measles and diphtheria abroad, and coming home and spreading these communicable diseases to others. Travellers should always be up to date on their routine immunizations, especially when exposing themselves to increased risk abroad." See a travel health provider Johal recommends that travellers see a travel health provider four to six weeks prior to departure to ensure enough time for vaccinations and prophylactic medications to take effect. Khatib, for her part, pegs the lead time at six to eight weeks. Should a healthcare concern arise during a vacation, those that sought advice and expertise from a travel health profes- sional are "better prepared to deal with an illness, know how to avoid getting sick, and are able to seek out appropriate medical advice," Khatib says. Post-travel symptoms such as fever, diarrhea or rash, espe- cially in travellers returning from a malaria endemic region, require immediate medical attention, Johal adds. "Hopefully with lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, more trav- ellers will realize the importance of mitigating risk from communicable diseases, and will take the necessary steps to obtain pre-travel advice and vaccinations."