Safe Travels

International travelers should always be extra concerned about their health and safety. Here is essential information on travel health risks and preventive measures to keep you and your loved ones safe during your travels.

Eat and drink safely

The most common illnesses among travelers are generally caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, or viruses. Always take precautions with food and water to avoid getting sick.

Recommendations

Consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel.

Eating and drinking: 

Boil it, cook it, peel it or leave it!

• Always wash your hands before eating or preparing food. It is also important to remember to wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or having contact with animals or sick people.

• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. It’s a good idea to always keep some with you when you travel.

• Only eat foods that are well cooked and served hot. Avoid food served at room temperature.Avoid raw or undercooked (rare) meats and fish, including shellfish.

• Only eat fruits and vegetables if you have washed them in safe water or peeled them yourself.

• Avoid salads or other items that are made with fresh produce.

• Avoid food from street vendors.Drink water only if it has been boiled or disinfected or if it is in a commercially sealed bottle.

• Use ice made only from purified or disinfected water.

• Commercially sealed beverages in cans or bottles and served unopened, such as carbonated drinks, and drinks made with boiled water and served steaming hot, such as coffee and tea, are generally safe.

• Brush your teeth with purified or bottled water.

• Avoid unpasteurized dairy products and fruit juices.

Swimming and bathing:

Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated. You can get sick if you inhale or swallow it while bathing, showering or swimming.Try to avoid getting water into your mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes) or water in pools or hot tubs, which may not be adequately treated.

To ensure that water is safe to drink, there are several water treatment methods available for travelers. These methods include boiling, using chemical disinfectants, portable water filtration devices or ultraviolet light.

Boiling

Boiling water is the best method to make water safe to drink.Water should be brought to a rolling boil for 1 minute.

Chemical Disinfectants

• Chlorine and iodine chemical disinfectants come in many forms including drops, tablets and packets of powder.

• The chemical disinfectant should be purchased in Canada, if possible. Chemical disinfectants may not remove all parasites. Water should also be filtered or boiled to ensure safety.

• Iodine containing disinfectants should not be used by children, pregnant women, persons with thyroid problems or known iodine sensitivity or for continuous use for more than a few weeks at a time.

• Chemical disinfectants should be used with caution. The manufacturer’s instructions should be followed carefully as this approach may not be effective or may be dangerous if used incorrectly.

Portable Filtration Devices

• Portable filtration devices include ceramic filters, carbon filters and membrane filters.

• Filters should have a pore size of less than 0.5 microns to be most effective.

• Filters may not remove all viruses. Filtered water should also be purified using a chemical disinfectant or boiled to ensure safety.

Ultraviolet (UV) light

UV light devices are effective to disinfect small quantities of clear water. Germs in cloudy water can be shielded from the light by small particles.

Bottled Water

Bottled water from a trusted source is a convenient alternative to water purification. Prior to drinking bottled water, ensure the seal has not been tampered.

Travel Health Kit

Why should I take a health kit when travelling?

A basic travel health kit is important no matter where you travel. First aid supplies and medications may not always be readily available in other countries or may be different from those available in Canada.

A good travel health kit contains enough supplies to prevent illness, handle minor injuries and illnesses, and manage pre-existing medical conditions for longer than the duration of your trip.

What should I pack in my travel health kit?

Basic First Aid Items

It is essential to know how and when to use the first aid supplies in your kit. You may consider taking a first aid course before you travel.

You may want to include:

• Adhesive bandages (multiple sizes) and adhesive tape

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Antiseptic wound cleanser (for example, alcohol or iodine pads)

• Blister pads or moleskin

• Disposable latex or vinyl gloves

• GauzePackets of oral rehydration salts

• Safety pins and scissors

• Tensor bandages for sprains

• Thermometer

• Tweezers for removing ticks, splinters etc.

Traveling with Medications

Discuss the use of medications with your health care provider before departure and carefully follow the directions for use, including dosage and when to seek medical care. Bring more than enough medication to last your entire trip.

Here is a basic list of medications to be included in your travel health kit:

Any prescription or over-the-counter medication you normally use

• 1% hydrocortisone cream to treat minor skin irritation, such as itching caused by bug bites or poison ivy

• Allergy medication, such as an antihistamine, or epinephrine prescribed by your doctor, such as an Epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen®)

• Anti-diarrheal medication

• Anti-motion sickness medication

• Antifungal and antibacterial ointments or creams to apply to wounds to prevent infection.Cold and flu medications, such as decongestants, cough suppressants or throat lozenges

• Pain and fever medication, such as acetylsalicylic acid (e.g., Aspirin®), ibuprofen (e.g., Advil®), or acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®)

• Stomach and intestinal medication, such as antacids and laxatives

• If recommended, destination-specific medication, like those for malaria or high-altitude sickness

• If you need to use needles or syringes, take more than enough to last for your entire trip and carry a medical certificate from your health care provider explaining that the needles or syringes are for medical use.

Contact Card

Carry a card with the following information in case of a medical emergency:

• Name, address, and phone number of a family member or friend in Canada

• Name and phone number of your health care provider in Canada

• Address and phone number of your accommodations at your destination(s)

• Address and phone number of hospitals or clinics at your destination(s)

• Address and phone number of the Canadian Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission in your destination country/countries (you might also consider carrying the  Emergency Contact Card)

• Emergency contact phone number from your travel health insurance provider

Before you go, don’t forget to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service and stay connected to Canada in case of an emergency abroad or at home.

Proof of Your Insurance Coverage

Always carry proof of your health insurance coverage when travelling. Consult our page on travel insurance for more information.

Immunization Record

Carry a copy of your immunization record in your travel health kit. Include your original International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis for yellow fever, if you have one.

Other Items

You may include these items depending on personal preference, destination, and activities:

• Aloe gel for sunburns

• Adequate supply of condoms

• Ear plugs to reduce noise or stop contaminated water from entering the ear canal

• Extra pair of glasses or contacts (or a copy of your prescription)

• Insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin

• Mosquito net

• Saline eye drops

• SunscreenWater purification filter or tablets

PLEASE NOTE: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only. Source of Information: Government of Canada | www.travel.gc.ca.