Food and Water Safety While Travelling

Contaminated food and water cause a wide variety of illnesses worldwide, the most prevalent of which is traveller’s diarrhea. It is important to remember that many countries do not have a safe supply of water for drinking or washing like we do in Canada, and it is up to all travellers to educate themselves on how to reduce their risk. A good place to start is with a basic hygiene routine that includes washing hands with soap and water prior to preparing or eating food and after using the washroom. If water is not available, the use of alcohol-based sanitizers is a suitable alternative. Use a palmful of sanitizer and rub all surfaces of the hands, including between fingers and under nails.

BOIL IT, COOK IT, PEEL IT, OR FORGET IT!

This saying reminds us of the basic safe practices and principles for eating while travelling. Unsafe food and beverages may be contaminated with bacteria, parasites, or viruses.
Tips for food safety:
• Try to eat hot, fresh, well-cooked food and avoid food left out at room temperature.
• Avoid consuming raw or undercooked meat, fish, or seafood.
• Fresh fruit and vegetables should be washed in safe water, or you should peel them yourself.
• Avoid salads if you are unsure about whether they were cleaned in a produce wash with safe water.
• If you are unsure about what foods might be safe when on the go, carry store-bought packaged snacks with you.
Tips for water safety:
• Commercially sealed beverages—such as water, soda, alcohol, etc.—are considered safe.
• Tap or other fresh water should be purified with chemicals, UV light, filtration, or boiling for one minute before using.
• Beverages are not the only unsafe water source, as lakes, rivers, and streams can also be contaminated and can cause serious illness if ingested through the mouth or nose, even while swimming.
Despite the above measures, there are still risks of becoming sick. This is where vaccines can help. They reduce that risk and protect you from getting ill. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, traveller’s diarrhea, a gastrointestinal illness, is the most common travel-related illness, affecting 30% to 70% of travellers, depending on destination and season. It is most often caused by food and beverages contaminated with bacteria. It can happen anywhere, but it is most common in the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa. The biggest risk with traveller’s diarrhea is dehydration, especially in children.
Symptoms of traveller’s diarrhea include:
• loose, watery stools
• nausea
• stomach cramps
• fever, which is usually mild and resolves within a couple of days
Prevention strategies include washing hands often, choosing safe foods and beverages, brushing teeth with bottled water, and receiving a vaccine if desired. Dukoral® is a vaccine formulated to protect against for two types of severe diarrhea; a specific type of E. coli bacteria (LT-producing ETEC) responsible for most traveller’s diarrhea and Vibrio cholerae the bacteria that causes cholera. Cholera is a severe diarrhea infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and that is prevalent in areas with contaminated water supplies and inadequate sanitation. Two doses of the vaccine are needed to provide protection of three to six months of protection from ETEC and up to two years for cholera. The first dose should be taken at least 14 days prior to travel and the second dose a week later. Future trips may only require a single booster dose depending on how long ago the previous dose was.
If you do happen to experience traveller’s diarrhea, treatment usually consists of:
• drinking safe beverages or oral rehydration salts (examples: Gastrolyte®, Hydralyte®, Pedialyte®)
• taking anti-diarrheal medication such as loperamide (Imodium®) or it’s a generic)s) version for long bus, car, or plane rides where you will not have access to a bathroom
• in severe cases, antibiotics can be prescribed by a healthcare provider
If you are planning to visit an area known for traveller’s diarrhea, consider asking your pharmacist or doctor for a prescription of antibiotics so you have the medication with you if you need to take it. It is important to be aware that some antibiotics can cause side effects such as sun sensitivity. Your pharmacist will review all side effects and precautions with you.

SAFETY FIRST

If you are planning a trip, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider who specializes in travel medicine, or speak to your physician. It is best to schedule an appointment at least four to six weeks prior to travel, as some vaccines need multiple doses for maximum protection. Travellers with shorter timelines are still encouraged to contact a healthcare provider to discuss options.
All our pharmacists can provide general travel tips such as non-prescription medications and products to include in your travel first aid kit. They can also offer guidance on any prescribed medications and vaccines. If you want to purchase Dukoral® vaccine to prevent traveller’s diarrhea, it is often available to purchase without a prescription at the pharmacy counter after a short consultation with a pharmacist. However, insurance claims may require a doctor’s prescription for coverage.

For specialized travel health recommendations, schedule an appointment at one of our Travel Clinics at select London Drugs pharmacy locations. Our London Drugs Travel Clinic Pharmacists have completed additional training and have obtained their Certificate in Travel Health™ from the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM). During your appointment they can will provide you with comprehensive travel advice tailored to your specific itinerary as well as vaccines and medicines to help keep you safe and healthy on your trip. Visit LDTravelClinics.ca for more information about this service our London Drugs Travel Clinics and for a list of our Travel Clinic locations. We want to help you enjoy a safe and healthy vacation.

Travelling Outside Canada? Get Current on Your Vaccinations First

With the summer holiday season approaching, you might be making plans to do some travelling abroad. While booking flights and hotel rooms is usually the first step, making sure you and your family are up to date on all age-appropriate vaccinations is another important part of the trip planning process.

The majority (78%) of Canadians believe that travelling outside of Canada puts them at risk for a number of vaccine-preventable diseases, according to a survey conducted by Insights West on behalf of London Drugs. Despite this, only half (52%) of those who have previously travelled overseas say they have ever received a vaccination specifically for travel. Just three in 10 (31%) are aware that the Government of Canada recommends that Canadians visit a travel clinic before travelling.

A Convenient Way to Update Your Immunity

“Travel vaccinations can be administered by pharmacists and this can be a more convenient, time-saving option for Canadians,” says Lily Liang, a Travel Clinic Pharmacist at London Drugs.

Travel Clinics are offered at select London Drugs locations and Certified Injection Pharmacists can administer common travel vaccinations such as hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, typhoid, and traveller’s diarrhea as well other recommended vaccinations like rabies, Japanese encephalitis, meningitis, pneumonia, shingles, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, and rubella.

Liang says getting current on your measles vaccination is particularly important right now, due to reported outbreaks throughout North America.

“The measles vaccine is the best way to prevent the spread of this highly contagious virus. If you’re planning an international trip, or if you are unsure of your immunization status, get vaccinated before travelling.”

More than a quarter (28%) of Canadians say they did not receive vaccination for travel because they didn’t feel it was necessary. Yet nine in 10 (89%) Canadians say they strongly believe that travel vaccinations and medications protect themselves and others when travelling and six in 10 (61%) agree that it’s important to review their immunization history before travelling.

“The results seem contradictory but the reemergence of vaccine-preventable diseases has caused some concern and confusion about vaccination. It is particularly important for those planning to travel internationally to get vaccinated,” advises Liang. “Beyond the serious health threats of not being vaccinated, travelling without them can really ruin a holiday if you or your loved ones become sick. No one wants to spend their vacation at a doctor’s clinic or hospital in a foreign country.”

Most (79%) Canadians say they are likely to visit their personal doctor to learn about vaccinations before travelling overseas, with pharmacies being the next most popular choice (61%).

London Drugs’ Travel Clinic

London Drugs’ Travel Clinic Pharmacists have obtained specialized training from the International Society of Travel Medicine and have their Travel Health® designation. They can provide advice about medications, vaccinations and health supplies needed for travel as well as the following services:

  • Comprehensive destination consults
  • Personalized travel health advice and record keeping
  • Administration of vaccines and boosters
  • Direct insurance billing

To book a Travel Clinic appointment before your next trip, visit LDTravelClinics.ca.

Share Your Summer Travel Memories on Instagram…and IRL

Summer is the season of camping trips, beach vacations, hiking adventures and most importantly, making memories. With the extra-long days, there’s time to squeeze in even more outdoor activities. Whether you’re spending your summer being a tourist in your own town, or jet-setting to somewhere entirely new, you’re likely planning to snap a lot of photos along the way. After all, summer is fleeting, and the best way to preserve those memories is with photos.

Of course, part of preserving those memories is sharing them. We snap hundreds of photos while on vacation, but how many of them never end up seeing the light of day? Some of them get posted online to Facebook or Instagram, but there are plenty more that end up sitting on memory cards and hard drives unseen. Make the most out of your photos by printing them. There are endless ways to showcase your summer travels, from square Instagram Books and Book-Its, to photo DIYs if you’re feeling crafty.

 

Book-It Mini Books

Your photos tell a story of where you’ve been, what you’ve experienced, and what you’ve learned. It may feel bittersweet to arrive home after an incredible vacation, but it’s always fun to relive the best moments while journaling your trip in a photo book, like the 6×4 Book-It Mini Book. Pick a colourful, graphical theme and customize the layout and text to tell your story.

Instagram Books

Instagrammers rejoice, even your square photos can be turned into a photo book. Compile your Instagram-worthy shots into a 4×4 square Instagram photo book that’s wire-bound and printed on quality glossy or pearl photo paper. When family or friends ask how your summer vacation was, you can pull out your handy brag book to show them all the awesome places you explored this summer.

 

Photo Print DIYs

Start off with some good old 4×6 photo prints, and let your creativity do the rest! Collect ticket stubs and other small souvenirs throughout the summer, and use your photo prints to create a fun collage. Or make a Summer 2017 timeline to hang on the wall: pick a photo of each summer excursion, and use wooden pegs to hang them chronologically along a string.

If a traditional photo album is more your style, add your printed photos to a Pioneer Canada 150 Photo Album to showcase your favourite moments from #Canada150.

 

Don’t forget: great prints start with a great camera. If you have a vacation planned for later this summer, plan ahead and upgrade your camera so you can capture your summer memories in the best quality possible. It might be a matter of upgrading your smartphone, point-and-shoot or DSLR, or even switching up your camera’s lens to something new. You’ll appreciate the boost in quality when you go to print your photos!