How to help if things go wrong on holiday

SURVEYS show only a small percentage of us knows what to do in a health emergency. Today, in the second part of our essential first aid series with St John Ambulance, we show you how to deal with common health hazards you may encounter on holiday.

No ONE likes to think they’ll have to deal with a first aid emergency or an accident while on holiday. Yet as these can and do happen, it’s vital to make preparations before you leave home.

The most important of these is to buy holiday insurance that will cover medical care abroad. Most countries charge for doctors’ appointments, ambulances and hospital treatment, and costs can mount alarmingly if you are not insured.

You should also seek advice in advance from your GP on vaccinations needed for foreign countries, and research ways to keep healthy in hot climates and regions with unfamiliar disease risks.

Make sure you are equipped with insect repellent and anti-malarial drugs where needed — and be extra vigilant when it comes to hygiene.

Alan Weir, head of clinical operations at St John Ambulance, particularly stresses the importance of washing hands, avoiding salads that may be washed in contaminated water, avoiding drinks with ice and opting for bottled water over tap water for the same reason.

‘Simple prevention like this can make all the difference to how much you end up enjoying your holiday,’ says Alan Weir.

Don’t forget a travel first aid kit — on the next page of this supplement, the experts from St John Ambulance suggest what to take. And be sure to pack this vital guide to holiday health, compiled by the experts.

VOMITING AND DIARRHOEA

WHEN travelling abroad, vomiting and diarrhoea are most commonly due to contaminated food or poor hygiene. This is often because of a failure to wash hands properly, because meat has not been adequately cooked or because cooked food has been left standing for too long.

In most cases of food poisoning, the food has been contaminated by bacteria, such as salmonella or e.coli, or a virus, such as the norovirus. vomiting and diarrhoea can occur separately or together, but both cause the body to lose vital fluids and salts.

Remember, dehydration can be a much more serious risk for babies and very young children because of their size. WHAT TO DO

In the first few hours, let the person vomit or continue to have diarrhoea — the contaminant needs to be eliminated from their body.

Don’t give anti- diarrhoea tablets in the first few hours. It is often better to let the stomach bug run its course.

encourage the person to drink regular sips of bottled water or weak cordial to keep hydrated.

ensure everyone else in the party thoroughly washes their hands and does not share towels in order to avoid spreading contamination between them.

DEHYDRATION

VOMITING and diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, a potentially severe condition where the body cannot function properly due to lack of fluids.

This might be a particular concern in a hot country where you may already be slightly dehydrated due to the weather. SYMPTOMS Confusion Headaches or feeling light-headed Dry mouth, eyes and lips Small amounts of dark urine Muscle cramps Paleness and weakness, particularly in young children and babies WHAT TO DO Help the person to sit down. Give them sips of cool, boiled water or bottled water — even if they are still vomiting. encourage them to rehydrate little and often rather than drink a large glass of water, which may not be tolerated

by their digestive system. They can also sip drinks made from rehydration powder.

When they are hungry again, offer easily digestible, bland foods such as bread, a banana or a glass of milk. Seek medical advice if:

The person is vomiting blood or passing blood in diarrhoea.

The person does not improve after 24 hours.

The person has a long-term underlying condition such as inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, diabetes or heart valve disease.