Travel health part 1 - travel, suncare Flashcards
The potential risks people may expose themselves to whilst away can include
Sudden changes in temperature, humidity and altitude
Unfamiliar microbes
Inadequate hygiene and sanitation
Poor quality accommodation
Poor quality/lack of access to medical services
Unavailability of clean water
Where can people access travel health services before travel?
Community Pharmacy
Online doctor services affiliated with community pharmacy for POMs
Some GP surgeries & only for specific vaccinations
Private travel clinics
What resources might you access to inform your travel advice?
NPA Malaria Prophylaxis guidance
‘The Green Book’
OTC directory
What sort of travel health services might a community pharmacy offer?
Prevention &/or treatment of;
Motion sickness
Flight related problems
Sun exposure
Traveller’s diarrhoea
Insect bites
Malaria
Vaccinations for other travel related diseases
and other general/specific advice tailored to the travellers needs
What questions would you need to ask someone who is asking for travel sickness pills?
Age
Length of travel
Have they used something before that’s worked
Other meds
Allergies
Pregnant/breastfeeding
Driving
General advise for someone who is travel sick
Do not travel on a full stomach
Passenger to sit at the front if possible
Avoid reading or using devices – best to look out of the window
Cool temperature & ventilation
Less likely to feel sick if driving
If OTC medicines are not suitable, complimentary therapies like ginger and acupressure bands maybe tried – limited evidence of efficacy
What are the OTC prevention and treatment of motion sickness
Antiemetics
Hyoscine hydrobromide (KWELLS)
Antihistamines
Cinnarizine & cyclizine = less sedating
Promethazine hydrochloride & promethazine teoclate = more sedating
Advice for people who are flyers
Wear loose, comfortable clothes
Store luggage overhead so you have room to stretch out your legs
Drink plenty of water
Don’t drinkalcohol or take sleeping pills
Recommend flight socks, esp. if flight is over 4 hours
Anti-DVT exercises
Raise your heels
keeping your toes on the floor
then bring them down
Do this 10 times
Then raise and lower your toes10 times
Do it at least every half an hour (can do it more often)
Walk around whenever possible
DO’s and DON’Ts for BEFORE travelling
Before travel
Get plenty of rest
Relax before going to bed
Gradually change sleep routine (in line with time of destination)
Before travel
Do not eat large meals
Exercise aggressively
Use electronic gadgets
Drink alcohol or caffeinated drinks
DO’s and DON’Ts for DURING travelling
During your flight
Drink plenty of water
Sleep if sleeping time at destination
Use eye mask & earplugs if required
Keep active as described earlier( where possible)
During your flight
Do not drink too much caffeine or alcohol – can make jet lag worse
DO’s and DON’Ts for AFTER travelling
After you arrive
Change sleep to new time zone ASAP
Set alarm to avoid over sleeping
Go outside during day – natural light helps body clock adjust
After you arrive
Do not sleep in too long
The sunlight that reaches us is made up of two types of harmful rays
what are they?
Long-wave ultraviolet A (UVA) - star rating 0-5 (4 or 5 is good)
Short-wave ultraviolet B (UVB)
What is SPF
how is it calculated
SPF stands for sun protection factor
An SPF number refers to the sunscreens ability to deflect UVB rays
SPF is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to burn sunscreen protected skin vs unprotected skin
SPF is rated on a scale from 2 to 50+
Less than factor 30 is not considered adequate protection
30 and over = adequate protection
Application of sunscreen for adults
Covering head arms and neck
and covering entire body
Adults should apply around:
2 teaspoons of sunscreen if just covering head, arms & neck
2 tablespoons if covering entire body while wearing a swimming costume
Other sun safety advice
Do not spend longer in the sun than you would without sunscreen
Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest (usually between 11am – 3pm; but will vary depending on location)
Avoid sun burn
Cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
Take extra care with children as their skin is more sensitive
Keep children <6 months out of direct sunlight
Treatment of sunburn
Sponge sore skin with cool water, then apply aftersun
Analgesics (paracetamol or ibuprofen)
Stay out of the sun until all signs of redness have gone
Sunburn - when to seek medical advice
if you feel unwell
The skin swells badly
skin blisters
Signs of heat exhaustion
Headache
Dizziness & confusion
Loss of appetite and feeling sick
Excessive sweating & pale sweaty skin
Cramps in the arms, legs & stomach
Fast breathing or pulse
Temperature of 38C or above
Being very thirsty
Advice if someone shows signs of heat exhaustion
- Move them to a cool place
- Get them to lie down & raise their feet slightly
- Get them to drink plenty of water
- Cool their skin
Heat exhaustion needs to be treated quickly – can lead to heat stroke
If the person is still unwell after 30 mins – seek medical attention
