Hotel Fires - What Can Tourists Do To Stay Save And Survive?

Although hotel fires happen infrequently, when they do occur they can have very serious consequences for the hotel guests. Travelers should take precautions and be aware of some basic information on what to do if a fire happens in their hotel when they are on holidays.

First of all, when you’re booking a hotel room, try and get a room no higher than the fifth floor. In case of a hotel fire, many fire engine ladders can’t reach higher rooms.. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

You should carry a small, battery-operated smoke detector in your travel luggage and hang it on the door knob on the inside of the hotel room door, or put it on a chair or piece of furniture near the door. Now you do not have to worry about whether or not your hotel room has a smoke detector and if it really works.

Check to see where the fire extinguishers are located on your floor. You should also check where the exit stairs are located in case you have to get out of the building in an emergency. Do not use an elevator if there is a fire, even if they are working.

If you smell smoke or the smoke alarm in your room or in the hotel goes off, do not open the door and rush out into the hall. Firstly, carefully touch the door to your room and if it does not feel hot, get down on your knees and open it slowly. If the hall is filled, or starting to get filled with smoke, crawl on all fours to the stairs and exit the hotel as quickly as possible. If your hotel door is hot to the touch, do not open it. Instead, roll up wet towels and cover up the space at the bottom of the door with them. Fill the bathtub with cold water. Open or take down any curtains, drapes, or blinds covering the windows and balcony door so that emergency crews can easily see into your room. Stay in the bathroom until the danger is over or help arrives.

What should you do if an earthquake occurs when you are in your hotel room?

In case of an earthquake, get under a sturdy desk or table in your hotel room. If you can’t get under a solid piece of furniture quickly, then get under an open doorway frame or move next to an inside wall in your room. Protect your head and neck the best that you can. When the ground stops shaking you may be able to exit the hotel safely. Just don’t use an elevator. The elevator’s mechanism may be damaged, even if the elevator appears to be in working order. Even if the elevator is working properly, and people are using it, still don’t use it. Why? What if you take the elevator and a major quake occurs when you are in it? You could end up being trapped inside, so always use the stairs. When you are outside the hotel, watch out for possible falling debris. It is always a good idea to seek an open place away from all tall buildings in case they collapse due to any subsequent small or large tremors, or another possible earthquake.

Great Travel Accessories For Vacationers And Business Travelers

If you’d like to know what travel accessories are available to make your trip easier, safer, and more comfortable, here are some great products. These items should be available at most luggage and travel accessories oriented stores.

What are compression bags and can they save a lot of space when you pack your luggage?

If you use space saving clear plastic compression bags when packing your clothes, you can save up to a whopping 80% more space in your luggage. They can be used over and over again for many years of very easy packing.

What is a non-slip security wallet and how does it work?

One accessory you should purchase is the non-slip security travel wallet. It is about the same size as a regular wallet but has non-slip rubber on one side which will catch on the inside of your pocket if it accidentally slips out of your pocket, or if pickpocket tries to pick your pocket. Always put your wallet inside your front pocket. Under no circumstances should you ever carry your wallet in a back pocket. Professional thieves have called it “the sucker pocket”.

Here’s a great trick! You can convert your wallet into a non-slip wallet by putting a couple of wide rubber bands around it. Another solution that will help with the pickpocket problem is a chain-equipped security travel wallet which can be attached to your belt.

The secret waist wallet is a wallet that compliments the non-slip travel wallet. It fits nicely under your shirt or blouse, but is still easily accessible. It is not a good idea to lift your shirt or blouse up and open this wallet in public as you never know who is watching, like a would be pickpocket, or robber. It is best to open it discretely where no one can see you doing it, such as in a public washroom stall.

A leather money belt that has a concealed, zippered pocket on the inner side of it, is an excellent security travel product. You can hide paper money, small, foldable documents, or a key in the secure, zippered pocket.

Elastic security socks have a concealed, zippered type pocket on the inside of each one of a pair of these socks. These socks would be difficult for a pickpocket to access.

Another unique accessory is the RFID blocking passport document holder. This radio frequency identification holder helps to protect your passport and other documents that can be electronically compromised from snooping data-stealing hackers.

A combination and key accessible combo luggage lock makes it possible for the custom’s officials to unlock your checked luggage for inspection with a special skeleton key, then lock your luggage up again. You can then dial the combination and you can open your luggage. This can save you a lot of time and money replacing regular locks that custom’s agents would normally have to break to gain entry to inspect your luggage. Another real plus with these combo locks is that you do not have any keys to worry about losing or replacing.

You can carry a personal, battery-operated security alarm that emits a loud, shrill pitched sound that may help ward off a mugger or robber. Another product that is less expensive and will produce the same effect is a referee’s whistle, which you can hide under your shirt or blouse, attached to a string and hung around your neck.

Battery-operated hotel room intruder alarms are excellent hotel room safety devices. One kind of alarm hangs on the room’s door knob. Any movement of the door or door knob will set off the alarm. Another one is the doorstop type which you push under the hotel room door’s bottom edge. If someone tries to open the door, the alarm will sound.

Women travelers can get an innovative security purse that has a steel cable sewn into the strap. This will foil a thief who attempts to cut through the strap and tries to take off with their purse.

Easy is the word for the pocket pillow that is approximately 6″ x 4″ x 1″. It inflates to about 19″ x 15″, and is handy to carry with you. It makes a comfortable pillow to rest your head upon.

You should always make sure that you protect your eyes when on vacation in sunny climates by wearing sunglasses that carry both a UVA as well as a UVB certified protection label.

The handy little book light clamps on to the edge of your book which enables you to read in dim light or total darkness. It also will allow you to read in the dark and not disturb your sleeping travel companion.

If you prefer wearing backpack you should check out a steel-mesh equipped backpack. These backpacks have steel mesh sewn into the sides and bottom, the most vulnerable places where a thief can slash it with a knife. When this happens, everything tumbles out, and the thief and his cohorts will grab anything of valuable and run in different directions.

Keep in mind that you will probably have to use adaptor plugs and converters if you are traveling to certain countries.

A large travel accessories store, Magellan’s, has an award-winning catalogue that has everything for travelers from adaptor plugs to secret security wallets. You can order their catalogue online, at Magellans.com

Tilley Endurables is a legendary manufacturer of sun-protective travel clothing and accessories. They created the world-famous Tilley Hat and specialize in making stylish, comfortable, and practical outdoor hats and travel clothing. Most of the fabrics that they use in manufacturing their hats and clothing carry a certified UPF 50 rating label, which is the highest rating for sun protection available. You can order their sun-protective clothing and accessories catalogue on their website, at Tilleys.com.

Don’t Lose Your Luggage When You’re Flying On A Vacation

It’s estimated that there are more than a million bags that are lost by the airlines each year in the U.S. alone. How many get lost in the whole world is anyone’s guess. Here are a few tips that may help you recover your bags if they should they get lost.

Attach a couple of tags with your name, home address, and phone number to the handle and zipper-pulls of every bag that you are checking. There’s less of a chance that every tag could get torn off when in transit. Make sure that you’ve taken off any old airline tags that are still on your luggage as they could confuse the baggage handlers.

Also, be sure to place the same contact information, including a copy of your itinerary and destination address inside all of your bags. That way, if they do go astray and are found in time, it is possible that they could be forwarded to your hotel.

Pick luggage with a bright or odd color that will stand out among the numerous black and brown bags. Know the brand name of the luggage that you have and attach a colorful ribbon or scarf to the handle to make identification easier. Stick some decals or a contrasting colored tape to every side of the bags so they are easier to spot as the carousel goes around. Try to remember these details, or better still, take a photo of your luggage just before you go and bring it with you. This can help the lost luggage staff at the airport in locating your bags if they are lost in transit and show up at their office. It will also help when you have to make a claim.

It helps to make a list of what you have in your luggage and carry that list in you carry-on bag. The chance of your luggage getting lost in transit increases dramatically when you have connecting, or delayed flights. Always pack all of your valuables, including your laptop or Blackberry, travel documents, prescriptions, etc., in your carry-on bag. It makes sense to pack only the things you can afford to lose in your checked baggage. Most analysts believe that the airline industry’s problem of lost luggage is not going to be resolved anytime soon.

What can you do your luggage gets lost?

Go immediately to the baggage claim office and file your claim. Many airlines have a twenty-four hour window of time starting from when your flight arrives to file a claim and be eligible for compensation. Get a claim receipt and check the tracking of your luggage with the airline by phone, or on the airline’s website. Make sure you keep all your flight documents until the lost luggage problem has been resolved.

How can you guarantee that your luggage will not be lost by the airlines?

There are a number of companies that will send your luggage in the U.S., such as UPS, FedEx, or DHL, directly to your hotel or destination address for a reasonable cost. If you are staying in a hotel, your luggage will be brought to your room. When you consider that in the U.S. alone, well over a million bags are lost by the airlines every year, this service may be well worth considering. If you are traveling by air through Europe, FirstLuggage.com, has a similar service.

Food And Water Borne Tropical Diseases May Ruin Your Holidays

There are a number of serious diseases caused by contaminated water and food. Four of these major diseases are dysentery, which can precede traveler’s diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid, and cholera. These diseases are prevalent in third world countries, but people can contract them even in their own home town. Here is information that can help you lessen the odds of getting these diseases when you’re on a tropical vacation.

What precautions can you take to lessen the chance of contracting these serious diseases when you travel?

Drink only bottled water when you are on holidays. Check to make sure that the seal of the cap has not been broken. If it shows any sign of being tampering with, do not drink the water. In many third world countries, it is not uncommon for some street vendors, children, or restaurants to fill water bottles with tap water and offer them to tourists as authentic bottled water.

Ice cubes can be a major source of contaminated water. Unlike bottled water, there is no way that you, as a vacationer, can be sure the ice cubes were made from a safe, non-contaminated source of water unless the restaurant has an impeccable reputation. Therefore, you shouldn’t use ice cubes in your drinks unless you are positive the source of the water is safe.

When you are on a tropical vacation it is advisable to avoid eating any uncooked foods such as salads as they are another major source of these diseases.

How do people usually contract traveler’s diarrhea?

Traveler’s diarrhea is commonly caused by contaminated food or water, but it can also be caused by a change of location or stress when traveling. Some symptoms are nausea, gas, an upset stomach, cramps and a liquid stool.

What can you do if you get traveler’s diarrhea?

You should drink a lot of purified water and soda or pop to prevent dehydration. These symptoms usually subside within two or three days, if these symptoms persist or get more severe, you should get medical help immediately as you may have one of two more serious conditions, bacteria, or amoeba dysentery.

What are some common of the symptoms of dysentery?

Severe headaches, stomach cramps, a high fever, vomiting, blood and/or mucous in the stool are the usual symptoms of both bacteria and amoeba caused dysentery. Both types of dysentery can develop into very serious conditions if left untreated. Seek medical help immediately.

What are the differences between hepatitis A and B?

Hepatitis A is a highly infectious disease that is spread through contaminated food and water (including ice cubes). Hepatitis B is spread in the same way that the HIV virus is spread, by infected blood or body fluids through sexual contact, a transfusion, or a cut or break in the skin. Both diseases have similar symptoms which may include a fever, chills, headaches, feeling fatigued, aches and pains, nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, lack of appetite, dark colored urine and light colored feces. Jaundiced skin and yellow whites of the eyes are also common symptoms. If you get some, or all of these symptoms you must seek medical help as soon as possible. However, as a precaution, it would make sense to see your local health authority before you travel on vacation and get vaccinated against both of these diseases. Remember that your first line of defense is to get vaccinations to protect yourself against hepatitis A and B before traveling.

It’s advisable to find out from your local medical health authority if you should be vaccinated before your trip. Some countries you want to visit may require an up-to-date vaccination certificate. Even if they don’t require one, it still makes good sense to be vaccinated as hepatitis A is highly infectious. Hepatitis B may lead to AIDS. Both of these diseases attack the liver. There is a vaccination called Twinrix which protects you against both hepatitis A and B. You can find out more about this combo vaccination at Twinrix.com.

What can you do if you contract cholera?

Cholera causes bad diarrhea, which may lead to severe dehydration and possibly death. This disease is contracted through contaminated food and water. And immunization is not considered effective, so you need to practice good hygiene.

How can you protect yourself against getting typhoid?

Typhoid is a disease that is also contracted through contaminated food and water. You should be immunized for typhoid if you are traveling to countries where the sanitation is poor.

Important Things You Should Know When Flying With Pets

If you’re planning to fly with your pet, you are part of a growing trend that has been increasing for the last number of years. Most airlines, for a nominal fee, will allow your small pet to fly with you if it will fit in a FAA approved pet carrier that can be stowed under your seat. The following is some important information can help you keep your pet healthy, safe, and happy on airplane flights.

When you book a flight, it is a good idea to make reservations for yourself and your pet as early as you can. You must inform the airline that you want to bring your pet with you. It is extremely important to tell them, as they will only allow a limited number of pets on each flight. Some airlines don’t allow pets at all, particularly on international flights. Always confirm your flight the day before you’re trip. If you’re traveling internationally you need to confirm your trip seventy-two hours before you fly.

Before you fly into the wide blue yonder with your furry travel companion, you need to take him or her to the veterinarian for a checkup, to make sure he or she is healthy enough to travel. You will also need to take its health certificate with you, showing that your pet is up-to-date on all its vaccinations, including rabies. Your pet must wear its current vaccination tag when traveling. As well, your pet must meet the health regulations of every country that you will be traveling to. Bring along a copy of your pet’s medical records listing its allergies, chronic medical conditions, and medications.

If you haven’t done this already, you should get your pet micro-chipped. That way, if your pet gets lost and is taken to an animal shelter or vet, where its chip can be scanned, you both can be reunited. Keep in mind that your pet’s identification tag will have your home address and phone number on it. That won’t be of much help if your pet is lost while you are on vacation. It may be a good idea to get another tag made up with your destination address and phone number on it. What happens if you pet isn’t found until after you have returned from your vacation? It makes sense that you should leave both your home I.D. tag on your pet as well as attaching the new tag. That way you have all bases covered and stand a better chance of being reunited with your pet.

You should carry a picture of you pet with you when you travel. It will help you prove that you are the pet’s owner if any problems of ownership occur. Also, the picture can be used to make some flyers up to post in the area where your pet was lost.

Flying with pets that are too large to fit into a FAA approved pet carrier is not advisable as they will have to be stowed in the cargo hold. Putting your pet in the cargo hold can be traumatic and dangerous to your pet’s health. It would make far more sense to leave your pet with friends, or a pet sitting service for the duration of your vacation.

The American Veterinary Medical Association advises against sedating or tranquilizing your pet when flying, especially dogs. Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting, so if they are tranquilized, they may not be able to pant. If this happens, it can leave them defenseless against the fluctuation of temperature and air pressure that occurs in the cargo hold of every flight. Also, keep in mind that pets don’t enjoy flying, or being stuffed into a cramped kennel and left alone in a dark and desolate cargo hold. It must be terrifying for them.

There are many websites that have additional valuable information on traveling with your pet. Two wonderful sites are the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at aspca.org, and the Department of Agriculture at aphis.usda.gov, which has an excellent article called, Traveling With Your Pet.

If you want a great travel carrier for your small pet, you may want to consider the popular, FAA approved pet carrier, Sherpa On Wheels. This Cadillac of pet carriers can be a luxurious and comfortable home for your pet while flying. It has the convenience of a front and top entry, mesh ventilation panels, recessed wheels, as well as a detachable pull handle and a shoulder strap. It is available on line at SherpaPet.com.

Protect Yourself From Mosquito Borne Diseases When On Holidays

The mosquito is a major cause of a number of serious diseases throughout the world. Five of the most prevalent mosquito-borne diseases are Malaria, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, and West Nile Virus .

Malaria is the most common serious disease that’s caused by mosquitoes. Over a million people die from the disease worldwide each and every year.

Female mosquitoes deposit their eggs into your bloodstream when they feed on your blood. These parasite eggs incubate and grow in your liver and then attack your red blood cells. The first symptoms usually show up within twenty-four hours. Some symptoms are shivers and chills, a high fever, as well as nausea and vomiting. This is generally followed by a deep sleep and then a flare up occurs. If these symptoms continue to repeat themselves every two or three days, you must seek medical attention.

There is an anti-malaria prescription that can be taken to help protect you when you’re traveling on vacation in mosquito infested tropical climates. To receive maximum protection, this medication should be taken before, during, and after your trip. However, these pills are not always completely effective.

Pharmaceutical drugs such as Chloroquine, Doxycycline, Mefloquine, and Fansidar, can be prescribed to treat malaria, but again, they aren’t always totally effective. Ask your doctor more about the dosage and length of time that you should take any of these prescription medications.

You can protect yourself from yellow fever by getting vaccinated by a physician at a local health authority before you travel on your holidays. This vaccination lasts about ten years and is very effective.

Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that is transmitted by a bite from an infected mosquito. This disease can be prevented by a series of three vaccinations.

Dengue fever is a viral disease that’s spread by mosquitoes. There’s no vaccination that will prevent this disease.

The West Nile Virus is also spread by infected mosquitoes. There is no vaccine available to protect you from this disease.

Always keep in mind that when it comes to the serious mosquito-borne diseases, prevention is always better than a cure, even if there is one. It’s always best to limit the chances of being bitten and infected by mosquitoes in the first place. You should always wear loose fitting, long-sleeved shirts and slacks between the hours of dusk and dawn and apply a DEET containing insect repellent when mosquitoes become active near dusk. Always kill all the mosquitoes in your room before going to sleep, and use mosquito netting and coils when camping or sleeping outdoors.

Nitrogen In Your RV Tires Can Save You Money On Vacation Driving

Not only can travelers save money on gasoline by replacing the air in their vehicle’s and RV’s tires with nitrogen gas, they can save money on their every day driving as well. Research shows that drivers can improve their gas mileage by over three percent when they use nitrogen in their motor vehicle’s tires.

This is not new technology as it has been used for a number of years by commercial airlines as well as in NASCAR cars. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that nitrogen be used in all commercial aircraft tires to eliminate the possibility of water vapor freezing at high altitudes which happens with air filled tires. And NASCAR teams use nitrogen gas in the tires of their racing cars because the tire pressure varies less than it does with air.

How can putting nitrogen gas in your vehicle’s tires save you big bucks?

First of all, you do not have to buy new tires to make the change, your present tires will be fine. When using nitrogen gas in the tires you can improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and save a lot of money in the process. Nitrogen in your tires will also improve your vehicle’s handling and extend the life of your tires so you will have to replace them less often. There is no question that in this era of record high gas prices you will reap substantial savings on all of your driving for years to come.

How can using nitrogen gas in your vehicle’s tires also benefit our environment?

If you use nitrogen gas instead of air in you vehicle’s tires, that will help to maintain a proper tire air pressure. This optimizes tire road contact and therefore reduces tire/road resistance. This will increase your fuel economy and put less exhaust emissions into the atmosphere. You might say that by going green you are saving a lot of green, greenbacks, that is.

What can you do to help America’s economy reduce its dependence on foreign oil?

Current national research shows that if every driver in the U.S. replaced the air in each of their vehicle’s tires with nitrogen gas, they would improve their gas mileage by over three percent. These figures translate into an enormous saving of almost four trillion gallons of gasoline per year!

For more information and research on the growing use of nitrogen gas in motor vehicles’ tires including those of commercial carriers, visit Get Nitrogen at their website, GetNitrogen.org. In addition to the research data, you will find an ever growing list of registered dealers in the United States and Canada that can replace the air in your tires with nitrogen.

Here are some important points on how you can save gas and lessen green house gas emissions at the same time by not driving on under inflated tires, whether you are using air or nitrogen gas in them.

Firstly, check your vehicle owner’s manual for the optimum tire pressure.

Measure tire pressure accurately with a tire gauge as a visual tire inspection is not reliable.

It’s best to measure tire air pressure when they’re cold. You should wait approximately three hours for the air inside your tires to cool down before measuring the tire pressure.

Lastly, and probably the most important point, always check the air pressure in your vehicle’s tires at least once a month.

Seasickness Is Not A Significant Problem On Modern Cruise Ships

Modern cruise ships have dramatically lessened the problem of seasickness. Today’s larger ships slice through the waves instead of riding on top of them. Also, new technologies like stabilizers and counterbalancing systems have greatly reduced the pitch and roll of the ships, all but neutralizing the problem of seasickness.

However, if you feel you have a severe seasickness problem, you may want to book an inside cabin located on a lower deck and in the center of the ship. This is the area of the ship where the least rocking motion is felt. If you are planning to book a trans-Atlantic cruise, it’s possible that the crossing of the ocean may be rough at certain times.

If you need it, the ship’s physician can prescribe medication such as, Bonine, Benadryl, or Dramamine tablets that will treat dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, the worst symptoms of motion sickness. There is another very effective, doctor prescribed, anti-seasickness product called Transderm Scop. They are small patches that are placed behind the ears. The patches can lessen, or even prevent the effects of motion sickness.

Sea-Bands, which apply a gentle pressure to the acupressure points on both your wrists also work well. They have been clinically tested to help provide relief from nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness when traveling, pregnancy, anesthesia, chemotherapy, and any condition that may induce vomiting. They are available in drug stores and pharmacies as well as most travel oriented stores and do not require a prescription. They do not cause any side effects so can be used safely, again and again, whenever you feel nauseous. They can also be purchased online at Sea-Band.com.

Health care professionals such as a physician, or pharmacist should always be consulted about drug dosages and their possible side effects. There can also be side effects caused by different drug combinations, even with over-the-counter medications.

Lyme Disease - Don’t Let A Serious Tick Bite Ruin Your Holidays

Travelers, campers, and vacationers can be at risk for contracting Lyme disease, a serious, debilitating condition caused by being bitten by an infected tick.

What are the usual symptoms of Lyme disease?

Some symptoms of Lyme disease are the classic bull’s-eye red rash, loss of energy and fatigue, feeling sleepy, a tingling and numbness, swollen and painful joints, memory loss, and a feeling like you are getting the flu. A less common symptom is paralysis of the face.

Getting Lyme disease can make your life miserable and cause you a lot of pain and suffering if it is not diagnosed and treated immediately. The longer you wait before seeing a health care professional allows this disease to progress quickly and it may not be possible to lessen it’s effects.

How is Lyme disease usually spread?

Ticks bite and then feed on animals such as mice, other small rodents, and deer. If any of these animals are carrying Lyme disease bacteria, they can then pass it on to the ticks. When people get bitten by an infected tick they can contract Lyme disease.

How can you reduce the chance of getting Lyme disease?

As some people do not have symptoms right away, prevention is the best policy. When you travel in the spring through summer months to or through areas where deer, mice, other rodents and animals live, the following are some things you should do.

If you are camping on vacation or holidays, you can limit the number of ticks around your campsite by reducing the brush and leaves debris. Wear light colored clothing so you can more easily see these very tiny black insects and remove them before they attach to your skin. Be sure you wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck them into your pants. Also tuck your pant cuffs into your socks. It is also a good idea to wear rubber boots as ticks are usually found close to the ground. However, you can also get them in your hair if you brush against leaves on a low tree branch. Wearing a light-colored, wide-brimmed hat may help. Be sure to check your skin and scalp carefully as ticks can easily be overlooked, especially in your hair. Applying a DEET containing insect repellent to your clothes and exposed skin, as well as applying the insecticide permethrin to your clothes will also help.

How can ticks be safely removed?

Ticks that have burrowed and lodged themselves under your skin can be removed by using small-tipped tweezers. Make sure that you don’t leave any part of the tick remaining underneath your skin. When the tick has been completely removed, disinfect the wound thoroughly with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Remember that you are not totally out of the woods yet as symptoms can take several days, even weeks before any show. Using tweezers is the only safe way to remove ticks that have attached or burrowed into your skin or scalp. Don’t try to remove ticks using burnt matches, petroleum jelly, or alcohol as this will only make the ticks release more of the bacteria into your blood stream.

Please note that at the present time there is no vaccine available for Lyme disease.

The Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) states that this bacterial disease is vastly under reported, perhaps by well over 100,000 cases per year in the U.S. alone. Visit their website at cdc.gov for more information on Lyme disease.

Tropical Vacation - Can Serious Danger Lurk Under The Midday Sun?

Even though these sun related problems, sunburn, heatstroke, and heat exhaustion are not diseases, they can be very serious and could ruin your vacation. They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is particularly true when dealing with the sun. Keep in mind that the sun’s rays in the tropics are more intense between noon hour and three p.m., as well as at high altitudes, even if it’s a cloudy or overcast day.

How can you prevent getting a sunburn?

In general, the lighter or fairer your skin is, the easier you may sunburn. Clouds offer little or no protection from a severe sunburn, so why take a chance of ruining your holidays when getting a painful sunburn is easy to protect against? To prevent getting a bad sunburn, especially if you sunburn easily, you should use a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30, or stronger if possible. Use sunscreen liberally, wear a wide-brimmed hat, buy UVA & UVB protection certified sunglasses, and wear long-sleeved shirts and slacks. If you can, try to stay out of the sun between noon and three in the p.m.. Build up your exposure to the sun gradually each day. Limit the time that you spend in the sun to approximately fifteen minutes the first day, and increase your time in the sun gradually on subsequent days.

What can you do to treat a severe sunburn?

You can ease the pain of a sunburn if you soak in a cool bath three to four times every day. If you add baking soda to your bath, it will help even more. Cool showers may hurt too much, and not be as soothing or effective as cool, relaxing baths. To help with any headaches, or pain and swelling, take an aspirin or other pain medication such as Ibuprofen or Advil. It may not be a good idea to take any aspirin based pain medications if you are on a blood thinner or have an ulcer. If you’re not sure about taking these pain relievers, check with a doctor or pharmacist. Avoid dehydration by drinking at least six to eight glasses of water per day. Do not break any blisters if you can avoid it. Any broken blister can easily get infected, particularly in the humid climate of the tropics. Wash them gently with soap and warm water if they happen to break.

If your sunburn does not appear to be getting better and you still have pain after a couple of days, you develop a high temperature or fever, have splitting headaches that won’t go away, vomit or have diarrhea, feel dizzy and confused, or your eyes hurt and light is bothering them, you must seek medical help right away.

How can you prevent heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion is absolutely preventable. If you wear a wide-brimmed sunhat, drink lots of liquids, and stay out of intense heat and humidity, you can you avoid this serious problem.

What should you do if you have the symptoms of heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion is precipitated by a combination of high temperatures and humidity. This can result in your body’s loss of fluids from excess sweating. These fluids must be replaced quickly or heat exhaustion can occur.

The symptoms include headaches, fatigue and lethargy, giddiness, and muscle cramps. The treatment is to immediately get out of the sun or heat and drink plenty of liquids. Commercial beverages containing electrolytes, such as Gatorade, are preferable. Don’t drink any alcohol. This will make your condition worse.

If you do not feel better and show positive signs of recovery in a very short period of time, have someone take you to a hospital immediately as your condition could quickly progress into a true medical emergency, heatstroke.

What must you immediately do if you get heat stroke?

If heat exhaustion is not successfully treated immediately, it can result in an extremely serious medical emergency. Heatstroke is characterized by a very high body temperature of 102 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, or 39 to 41 degrees Centigrade. There is also cessation of sweating. The symptoms of heatstroke include flushed and red skin, a severe headache, confusion which can progress quickly into delirium and convulsions This can be fatal.

Note: Someone must help you by quickly taking you out of the sun or heat and rushing you to a hospital immediately.

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