Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
45
stages, you might experience headaches,
shortness of breath, loss of appetite and/or
nausea, tingling in the fingers or toes,
lethargy, and insomnia. The condition can
usually be treated by taking aspirin as well
as by getting plenty of rest, avoiding large
meals, and drinking lots of nonalcoholic
fluids (especially water). If the condition
persists or worsens, return to a lower alti-
tude. Other dangers of higher elevations
include hypothermia and sun exposure,
and these should be taken seriously. To
avoid dehydration, drink water as often as
possible.
Limit your exposure to the sun, espe-
cially during the first few days of your trip
and, thereafter, between 11am and 2pm.
Liberally apply sunscreen with a high pro-
tection factor. Remember that children
need more protection than adults do. It's
important to monitor your children's health
while in the region. They are just as suscep-
tible to mountain sickness, hypothermia,
sunburn, and dehydration as you are.
DIETARY RED FLAGS
Though some
places in the Southwest can have the feel
of towns in our neighboring Mexico, the
food and water here are safe. A broad
range of food is available, so that even
vegetarians can usually find something to
eat; small cafes often offer beans and rice.
One of the few dietary concerns is the
spicy chile, so be sure to ask how hot it is
before ordering.
BUGS, BITES & OTHER WILDLIFE
CONCERNS
If you're spending time
outdoors, be on the lookout for snakes—
particularly rattlers. Avoid them. Don't
even get close enough to take a picture
(unless you have a very good zoom lens).
Also watch for black widow spiders, which
have a bulbous body and an hourglass
image on their belly; a bite from this spi-
der can make you very sick. The same goes
for scorpions, which are crablike arachnids
with a curled, stinging tail. If you get
bitten by a snake or spider, or stung by a
scorpion, seek professional medical help
immediately.
This is also home to a large poisonous
lizard called the Gila monster. These black-
and-orange lizards are far less common
than rattlesnakes, and your chances of
meeting one are very slight.
Visitors to the region should also be
careful of contracting the plague and han-
tavirus, as a few cases of each are reported
annually in the region. Both diseases can
be fatal, and both are transmitted through
exposure to infected rodent droppings.
Though it's unlikely that you'll be exposed
to such things while traveling, be careful
anytime you note the presence of mice or
other rodents.
WEATHER CONCERNS
You'll also
want to be wary of arroyos, or creek beds,
in the desert where flash floods can occur
without warning. If water is flowing across
a road,
do not
try to drive through it
because chances are the water is deeper
and flowing faster than you think. Just
wait it out. Arroyo floods don't last long.
3
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET
SICK AWAY FROM HOME
We list
hospitals
and
emergency num-
bers
under “Fast Facts,” in each major city
chapter.
If you suffer from a chronic illness,
consult your doctor before your departure.
Pack
prescription medications
in your
carry-on luggage, and carry them in their
original containers, with pharmacy
labels—otherwise they won't make it
through airport security. Visitors from
outside the U.S. should carry generic
names of prescription drugs. For U.S.
travelers, most reliable health-care plans
provide coverage if you get sick away from
home. Foreign visitors may have to pay all
medical costs up front and be reimbursed
later.
