48 ~ Sunday, August 21, 1988 - North Shore News

SOME TRAVELLERS choose vacation destinations that

completely mystify me.

They encounter steamy heat, bugs, snakes, dirty water, bad food, local violence and disease. If a criminal were sentenced to some of this stuff, his lawyer could plead crue! and unusual punish- ment — and win.

It’s often young people on limited budgets who choose ‘‘exot- ic’? destinations — without a care in the world about protecting themselves from disease or injury.

travel wise Barbara McCreadie

About that time, I get a frantic call from the kid’s mom — how can she argue him out of going? And, if that fails, how can he best protect himself?

Our government does the best it can to provide travel counselling for anyone going abroad, but par- ticularly those headed for the trop- ics.

The nearest office is located at #515-757 West Hastings St., Van- couver, and it has all sorts of free pamphlets.

I must admit that after reading some of this literature I’d think twice about revisiting a lot of the places I’ve already been.

One of the most frightening pieces of information is the map showing areas where malaria may be transmitted. About half the world!

I’ve never taken anti-malaria medication in my life and yet i've visited all sorts of areas where 1! could have been infected — in-

t

SEMESi

is

cluding Mexico, Central America, South America, North Africa and the Middle East.

Australia is totally free of ma- laria, but the entire tropical and semi-tropical areas of the Far East are danger zones.

Anti-malaria drugs vary for the areas they are prescribed for.

It is essential that you take the right one and take it religiously.

To quote Health and Welfare Canada: ‘‘Prophylactic an- ti-malaria drugs are effective only if taken with unfailing regularity, beginning before departure, contt- nuing throughout the stay in malarious areas and for six full weeks after returning home.”

kkk

Of course, malaria is serious, but what about some of the other diseases? Won't ‘‘shots’’ keep us safe?

I was disappointed to find out that relying on inoculations is foolhardy: ‘‘Inoculation against cholera offers relatively little pro- tection, but even this is certainly better than nothing. Immunization against typhoid is about 70 per cent protective.”’

Additional precautions must be taken, but this kind of advice isn’t always practical.

We are cautioned to avoid anything ‘‘dirty’’ including eating places, accommodations, toilets, etc., but what do you do when nothing else is available?

You can miss a few meals without too much discomfort, but washrooms are essential. I’ve seen some so repulsive that the only way they could be cleaned would be to burn them to the ground and rebuild.

The wealthy traveller has a good chance of avoiding ‘‘dirty’’ places. Luxury hotels in even the most desperately poor countries are generally safe.

However, young people on limited budgets rarely stay at the Hilton. They can only trust in luck and their own common sense.

The best advice is to check the room carefully — before you pay for it!

atk

A traveller in underdeveloped countries must be extremely cautious about eating and drink- ing.

9A. BOUND? Don’t FORGET: Excess MEpicat INSURANCE!

fora long holiday, or just a day " across the border, don't tempt fate in the US., 07 “TAF where medical and hospital costs can skyrocket. Belore~ you leave, check into our Excess Medical and Hospital poticies - especially our new Holidair policy. We offer peace of mind in the U.S.- at competitive rates. Come in belare you travel.

BCAA insurance Agency

ms

wg adhed!

Foods to avoid include any raw vegetables and fruit that you can- not peel yourself, any undercooked meats or fish, anything with custard or mayonnaise, ice cream and other milk products (pasteurization is rare) and anything hot that isn’t or cold that isn’t.

Never eat anything that has been sitting uncovered such as bread. Flies are everywhere and carry all sorts of diseases.

Never drink tap water. Sealed bottles of mineral water are prob- ably safe as are familiar brands of soft drinks. Beer is generally safe.

You can purify water by boiling it for 20 minutes or by treating it with chemicals.

Be sure that the chemical treat- ment you use is not affected by heat. Some commercial tablets become inert when exposed to ex- treme heat (climatic).

See Beware Page 49

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One of the highlights of our two-week trip through paris of Labrador and Niid iast August was meeting Joseph O'Brien. He tuns Bird Island Charters in Bay Bulls, about 1:2 hour from St Johns. Not only did he teach Sue a jig or two, but we jigged successfully for cod, and photographed puffins, kestrels and each other al this enormous bird sanctuary. What memories! We didnt spot whales on this outing, but did see them spout just outside St Johns harbour while sitting and sipping in a 6th-floor lounge in the Hotel Newlourdland! No Kidding! , dress appropriately in Tilleys because they

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