Going South this March Break
Before you embark on your vacation as spring break begins Niagara Region Public Health wants you to have a safe and enjoyable time during your travels.
Know Before you Go
All travelers should familiarize themselves with conditions at their destination that could affect their health. When travelling internationally there may be diseases that put your health at risk. Vaccines are one of the best ways of preventing many of these diseases. Some of these vaccines are routine, recommended or required for travel.
To get informed:
- visit a travel clinic
- get information about recommended vaccines for the countries you are travelling to on the internet
More on Travel Clinics and Travel Websites
Protect Yourself from the Sun
When travelling to a tropical destination it can be tempting for you to stay in the hot sun all day long. It is important to remember that exposure to small amounts of sun can have some benefits, such as vitamin D production, but too much sun can be harmful.
Too much sun on unprotected skin can cause eye damage, premature aging of the skin, and damage to the immune system as well as increase your risk for skin cancer.
To protect yourself, wear:
- sunscreen with at least an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15
- wide brimmed hat
- UVA/UVB protective sunglasses
More on Sun Safety
Make Safe Food and Water Choices
Every year thousands of Canadian travellers may return home with more than just memories of their trip. Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, travellers' diarrhea, and several other diseases are caused by eating and drinking contaminated food and beverages.
To protect yourself, avoid:
- ice, as it may have been made with contaminated water
- dairy products that have not been pasteurized
- meat, fish and vegetables that have not been well cooked. They should be served piping hot
More on Safe Food and Water Choices
