Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Department of Health website:
For safety advice try the Foreign and Commonwealth Office:
Another good idea is to register with an organisation such as Medic Alert, a non- profit-
making charity providing a life-saving identification system for individuals with hidden
medical conditions and allergies.
The MedicAlert service is particularly helpful for those who wish to travel. The MedicAlert
emblem contains the international sign of medicine, and is recognised around the world.
MedicAlert also has a 24-hour emergency number that can be accessed by medical person-
nel anywhere in the world and has a translation service in more than 100 languages. As a
MedicAlert member, you wear a bracelet or necklet (known as an emblem) engraved with a
personal identification number, main medical conditions and an emergency telephone num-
ber.
In an emergency, medical personnel have immediate access to vital information on the back
of the MedicAlert disc. By phoning the emergency number, they can also gain further med-
ical and personal information such as your name and address, doctor's details, current drug
therapy and next of kin details.
Membership to the service, including a tailor-made emblem, is £30 a year.
Accidents/injuries
Accidents and injuries are the greatest cause of death in young travellers abroad. Alcohol/
drug use will increase the risk of these occurring. Travellers to areas with poor medical fa-
cilities should take a sterile medical equipment pack with them. Make sure that you have
good travel insurance that will bring you home if necessary.
AIDS
The HIV virus that causes AIDS can be contracted from: injections with infected needles;
transfusions of infected blood; sexual intercourse with an infected person; or possibly cuts
(if you have a shave at the barbers, insist on a fresh blade, but it's probably best to avoid the
experience altogether). It is not caught through everyday contact, insect bites, dirty food or
crockery, kissing, coughing or sneezing. Protect yourself: always use condoms during sex,
make sure needles are new and if you need a blood transfusion make sure blood has been
