Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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HEALTH
STAYING HEALTHY
There are no par ticular health concerns in the Cayman I slands. It is
one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean, with the best and
most comprehensive facilities found on Grand Cayman.
General Availability of Health Care
Shots ar e not r equired befor e entering the Cayman I slands (see
“Medical Requirements” in section 3 of this chapter). While medical
facilities are fully developed on Grand Cayman, only adequate clinics
are available on Little Cayman or Cayman B rac. If a visitor develops
a serious illness while v acationing on the two smaller sibling islands,
he or she is quickly airlifted to George Town. Grand Cayman also has
a decompression chamber. All victims of scuba-diving accidents in the
Cayman Islands are immediately taken or airlifted to this facility.
On G rand Cayman it 's easy to get o ver-the-counter medicine if
necessary, less so on Cayman Brac or Little Cayman. If you're visiting
these smaller islands, stock up on whatev er medication y ou think
you'll need. F or details on dr ugstores, hospitals, and medical emer-
gencies on G rand Cayman, see chapter 11, “F ast Facts”. For details
on hospitals and clinics on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, refer to
p. 157 and p. 174, respectively.
Pack pr escription medications in y our carr y-on luggage. Carr y
written prescriptions in generic, not brand-name, form, and dispense
all prescription medications fr om their original labeled vials. M any
people try to slip dr ugs such as cocaine into the Cayman I slands (or
pick them up ther e). D rugs ar e often placed into a container for
prescription medication after the legal medications hav e been
removed. Customs officials ar e well aware of this type of smuggling
and often check medications if they suspect a passenger is bringing
illegal drugs into or out of a countr y.
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Common Ailments
See also “Water,” in chapter 11, “Fast Facts.”
SUN EXPOSURE
The Cayman sun can be brutal. Wear sunglasses
and a hat, and use sunscr een liberally. Limit your time on the beach
during the first day. If you do overexpose yourself, stay out of the sun
until you recover. If fever, chills, headache, nausea, or dizziness follow
your overexposure to the sun, see a doctor.
BUGS & BITES
One of the biggest menaces is the “ no-see-ums,”
which appear mainly in the early ev ening. You can't see these gnats,
