Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Holiday-makers relaxing under umbrellas on the beach
PRIVATE HOSPITALS
most diseases. However,
hygiene standards of food
and drink are high, especially
in major tourist areas. Water
is usually filtered or bottled
and ice cubes are made from
filtered water. Even in the
most remote parts, mineral
water is easily available. As
long as fruit, vegetables, and
meat are handled properly,
they can be eaten safely.
tanning to a only few hours.
Pharmacies and grocery stores
sell a variety of national and
international sunscreen
brands. Those sold on the
beach itself, or in street
markets, are best avoided.
The contents may either be
fake, or have been kept in
storage for a long time, which
causes the active ingredients
to deteriorate.
Brazil does not offer the best
medical facilities in its public
hospitals. Foreign visitors, in
particular, may find it difficult
getting a bed, unless it is an
infectious disease. In most
public hospitals, the level of
health care will not match
European or US standards.
Private hospitals, however,
offer world-class facilities.
Though good medical care
may be rare to find in rural
areas, in the larger cities you
will never be far from a
decent private hospital. In
many big cities, local tourist
offices and some good hotels
can provide a list of doctors
who can speak English,
French, and German.
For medical emergencies
in a remote area, an air ambu-
lance service offers a pick-up
within 24 hours of calling.
However, it is advisable to
contact the travel insurance
company before requesting
for this service.
Though fairly affordable
by international standards,
private treatment in Brazil
may turn out to be expensive.
Many doctors and hospitals
do not accept travel-health
insurance, and insist on
payment in cash.
DIRECTORY
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Ambulance
Tel 192 .
PRIVATE HOSPITALS
Rio de Janeiro
Hospital Samaritano, Rua Bambina
98, Botafogo. Tel (021) 2537
9722 . www .hsamaritano.com.br
Copa d'Or, Rua Figueiredo de
Magalhães 875, Copacabana.
Map 3 D1. Tel (021) 2545 3600 .
www .rededor.com.br/copador
Hospital Ipanema, Rua Antônio
Parreiras 67, Ipanema .
Map 2 C4. Tel (021) 2287 2322.
São Paulo
Hospital Albert Einstein, Av Albert
Einstein 627-701, Morumbi.
Tel (011) 3747 1233 .
For ambulance: (011) 3747 0200 .
www .einstein.br
Hospital Sírio-Libânes, Rua dona
Adma Jafet 91, Bela Vista.
Map 4 F2. Tel (011) 3155 0200 .
www .hospitalsiriolibanes.org.br
A local drink seller on a Rio de
Janeiro beach
SUN PROTECTION
Visitors from the northern
hemisphere should take
extra care with Brazil's
intense tropical sun, espe-
cially for the first few days in
the country. Brazil basks in
almost year-round sunshine,
making adequate sun
protection absolutely crucial.
Avoid exposure between
11am and 3pm and apply
sunscreen to all exposed parts
of the body. Wear sunblock
(minimum SPF 30) and limit
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
A visit to Brazil, by and large,
does not require special
health precautions. Impure
water and contaminated food
are usually the reasons for
 
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