Moira Bishop, assistant editor of Healthy Travel Blog, is on the Marketing & Communications team at HTH Worldwide. Prior to joining HTH in 2009, she was in the Affiliate Sales & Marketing group at TV Guide. Moira earned an M.A. from Rosemont College and a B.A. from York College of Pennsylvania.
Tomorrow marks the 42nd anniversary of the Department of Transportation’s first day of operation. And today marks the announcement of the recipients of the 3rd annual Dotty Awards – the annual recognition of those travelers you hope to avoid on your travels. Enjoy reading about these “winners” and feel free to share with us your own out-of-the-ordinary experiences!
At the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) annual conference in Boston earlier this month, Paula Lucas, the founder of one of the local chapters, told her personal story of trying to escape domestic violence while abroad in an interview aired on National Public Radio’s Here and Now saying “You have the perception that your (American) freedoms travel with you — and they don’t.” This is especially true of women who find themselves in a country that minimizes their rights.
One of the core missions of FAWCO is to provide a voice for American women abroad and to support the rights of Americans worldwide. Paula Lucas founded the Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center after she escaped from Dubai where she and her children had suffered physical abuse at the hands of her first husband. The local police were of no help because in that country fathers are allowed to discipline their children in any way they see fit. She had lobbied for help from the U.S. embassy, and U.S.-based family members worked the state department, their senators and representatives for help, but no government official wanted to intervene for fear of causing an international incident. It was solely up to Paula to get herself and her sons out. (Use the link to the radio interview above to hear how).
Paula doesn’t want other women to have to endure what she went through, and she knows the limits of finding the help you need abroad – a lot of shelters don’t speak English, you don’t have access to your own money, you don’t have a support network or anyone to talk to. Now word of help is getting out. Last month The American Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center call volume grew 330% over 2009. The Center can be reached internationally toll-free (866-USWOMEN) from 175 countries. It’s a source of assistance and support for abused Americans, mostly women and children, in both civilian and military populations overseas. The center answered 1,500 calls and helped 300 families last year.
HTB is digging into women’s rights issues around the world. Check back with us soon to see how countries compare.
One of the most basic aspects of safe travel is getting to and from your destination safely, and if you are driving you have more control over this than with other modes of transportation. In the past we’ve covered safe driving in general and identified some areas across the globe with particularly unsafe roads. Recently, Reader’s Digest released the results of a study of U.S. road conditions, ranking each state’s roads as well as identifying both particularly good and bad highways.
Reader’s Digest ranked the general condition of the roads in each state using information from the Federal Highway Administration including safety, congestion, and condition of roads and bridges. The deadliest roads are ranked based on the number of fatalities per 100 million miles driven. If you are planning a road trip in the U.S., check out the lists to see what you can expect. Be careful in Montana which is ranked number one for deadliest roads and deadliest occurrences of DUI.
Finally, you can also check out the 22 bad roads and 9 good ones they identified and route your trips with this knowledge. Perhaps someday GPS devices will be able to give you the safest along with the fastest and shortest routes.
As always, don’t contribute to the problem: Buckle up, don’t drink and drive and keep your eyes on the road and the cars (and other vehicles) around you.
If the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day has you envisioning yourself backpacking through the lush greenery of Ireland, put down your Guinness, and pick up a pen. It’s time to make a list. Better yet, just bookmark this blog post.
After you choose an initial destination, or at least an arrival and departure point, you should research the area for basic information related to weather conditions, security and availability of health services. If you’ve never backpacked before, pick up a backpackers guide to help fine-tune your plan based on your destination. Amazon.com gives The Backpacker’s Handbook five stars, but there are several others to choose from.
As you count down the days to your adventure, you can busy yourself by gathering some basic essentials for your trip. Remember you will be carrying whatever you pack, so pack lightly, but don’t exclude the most important items:
1) One set of extra clothes. These clothes should be kept dry at all times and should ideally be made of a synthetic material (like nylon) that won’t absorb too much moisture and will dry quickly.
2) Food. Pack snacks that are light and not bulky, full of calories, and easy to prepare. You can stack up on freeze-dried backpacking meals, quinoa, pasta, grains or dehydrated fruits and vegetables.
3) Water. Bring water purification tablets and a canteen or aluminum water bottle that is easy to carry.
4) Sunglasses. If you’re going to be under the open sky, you’ll want to protect your eyes.
5) An all-in-one tool such as a Leatherman or Swiss army knife. Note that you don’t want to try to board an airplane with this in your carry-on. So check yours or purchase one once you arrive at your destination.
6) A fire starter and/or matches. These should be kept in a plastic bag to avoid moisture damage.
7) First aid kit. This should include an assortment of bandages, some pain killers, and an antiseptic to clean out cuts. You may need to include items specific to your destination, e.g. if you are going to an area that has a notable snake population, you will need a snake-bite kit.
8) Flashlight. Look for a pocket size flashlight or head lamp with a bright central beam.
9) Map. Find the most up to date version of a map covering the area you will be hiking through.
10) Compass. What good is map without a compass?
Some additional items that you could include are sunblock, insect repellent and a sleeping bag. Again, the extras will depend on where you are going. As with any trip, bring your common sense; it won’t take up any room in your backpack and can save you from most hazards you could encounter on your journey.
Weather is enjoying celebrity-like status in the news this year. The unusually warm weather in Vancouver has caused all kinds of problems with the outdoor Olympic events, but these abnormal conditions are not unique to British Columbia. Many areas of Canada and the U.S. are experiencing unseasonable warmth and rain, or equally unusual cold and snow. These strange patterns extend beyond North America as evidenced by floods and mud slides in Machu Picchu and Portugal. The blame for this weather can be squarely attributed to El Nino once again.
El Nino emerges every 2 – 7 years and is caused by irregular warming and cooling of the Pacific Ocean west of South America. This disturbance kicks up atmospheric conditions that give rise to unusual patterns of deluge and drought. When El Nino delivers a large amount of rainfall to a desert area, problems occur. Likewise, El Nino can indirectly unleash freezing temperatures and precipitation that harm crops cultivated in areas used to a warm dry climate.
In addition to the immediate havoc caused by these weather patterns — floods, mudslides and crop failures, there are long-tem implications for public health. As the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, flooding can cause pollution leading to food-borne illnesses that attack one’s digestive system. Flooding also creates a moisture-rich environment ideal for mosquitoes to breed. More mosquitoes mean more carriers for vector-based diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya.
Recent reports from Environmental Research show how scientists are analyzing El Nino to predict some of these outbreaks. Their insights can help determine which vaccines travelers will need to stay healthy. As you plan your trip, don’t just look at the weather forecast. Do some digging into recent weather trends to uncover any problems El Nino might be drumming up, whether it’s disease, digestion or the dislodging of entire mountainsides.
This map from Wikipedia (click to enlarge) shows the weather patterns created by El Nino. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/El_Nino_regional_impacts.gif).
While you are ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, or hiking in the cold you may not feel the chill, but you still need to protect your skin. Long term exposure to cold temperatures, or even short term exposure to extreme temperatures can lead to frostbite.
Frostbite is the freezing of your body from the outside in – starting on the outer layers of your skin and working its way to your muscles. The most common areas for the cold to attack first are the toes, feet, the tip of the nose, the tops and lobes of the ears and the fingers.
As frostbite sets in the skin will turn red then blue, and as the damage gets more severe, the blue will change to white or yellow or maybe even black. Likewise the feeling will progress from tingling, leading to burning and then throbbing pain.
The best way to prevent frostbite is to be prepared for it. Know the temperatures your skin will be exposed to (don’t forget to include the wind chill in your calculations) and dress to protect your skin appropriately: Dress in layers, wear warm socks and gloves to protect your hands and feet and wear a ski mask and ear muffs to protect your nose and ears. If you feel warm or hot while you are out in the extreme cold, don’t make the mistake of thinking this is a reflection of the outdoor temperature. It is probably an effect of your body temperature, so don’t remove the layers protecting your extremities.
If you think you have frostbite the best thing to do is call a doctor. If this is not an option, take steps to restore the frozen areas to normal temperatures. The best way to do this is to soak or wrap them in warm water. Using hot water could lead to more burning and skin damage. Do not rub any of the areas affected and do not let fingers or toes rub together, this can cause further damage. As the skin returns to normal temperatures, it is common for blisters to develop and skin to become very tender. It can take weeks or months for your skin to return to normal after frostbite.
In some cases, the effects of frostbite will not show up for months, so if you can’t get to a doctor immediately, get to one as soon as you can.
Because good circulation helps deter frostbite, keep hydrated and avoid alcohol when you are going to be out in the cold. Diabetics, smokers and anyone else with poor circulation should take extra precautions to stay warm and protected as they are more vulnerable to this condition.
For additional information on frostbite, visit Web MD or see what the Ice Road Truckers have to say about it.
Take the time to protect your skin before you head out in the cold. 65% of the people who get frostbite will suffer long-term effects – you don’t want to be regretting your haste in the winter as you head for the beach in July.
Does talk of the upcoming winter Olympics have you channeling your inner Lindsey Vonn or Shaun White? Skiing and snowboarding are great winter activities — fun meets fitness. Regardless of where in the world you decide to visit to participate in these types of winter sports, there are some safety issues to consider: protect your head and face, keep warm and know your own abilities and your surroundings.
Protect your head. Regardless of how well you ski or snowboard, there are other factors on the slopes that could cause a serious fall. Other skiers, random patches of ice or just dumb luck can knock you down and knock you out. To limit the seriousness of injuries that you could sustain during such a fall, wear a helmet!
Protect your face. While you are outside on a mountain covered in snow, the elements are constantly attacking your skin. The wind and the sun can burn and dry out your face and lips. Apply sunscreen to your face every few hours and lip balm as often as necessary. The glare of the sun off the snow can be blinding, so wear sunglasses or goggles with UV protection.
Keep warm. If you’re a strong skier or snowboarder, you might feel that the extra layers of clothing are cumbersome and limit your free styling ability. However, frostbite could take you (or your hands or feet) off the slopes permanently. Warm gloves, hats, long underwear and socks are remarkably thin and warm these days, so if you don’t like bulk, check out your local REI or ski or snowboard shop. You want the layer of clothing closest to your body to be made of wool, silk or polyester. These materials will wick the sweat away from your body instead of trapping it on your skin and making you feel colder. Trails.com provides a realistic plan for layering that you might want to consult while planning what to pack.
Know your own abilities. While you will likely challenge yourself during your outing, you don’t want to overdo it. Going from the bunny slope to a black diamond is not safe, nor is it a good idea to leave your snowboarding lesson and immediately go attempt to perfect the Backside 720. Use your head and plan your progression based on realistic advances. Regardless of how well you can perform in the snow, even the most talented of us can’t call for help while knocked out cold. So don’t ski or snowboard alone. Always go with someone who you can check in with at regular intervals.
Know your surroundings. Before you leave for your outing, do a quick survey of local hospitals or urgent care facilities. If you do need to be taken for medical assistance, you’ll want to know you’re headed for the best treatment available. (For a global database of hospitals, check out mPassport.com.)
Have a great trip! Let us know how it goes.
The heaviest rains to hit Peru in the past fifteen years have caused mudslides with serious consequences today — 4 people have been killed and 2,000 tourists have been stranded in and around Machu Picchu.
Reports from our contacts at Pardo Medical Center based in Cusco, Peru indicate that the heavy rain is not letting up and that is causing problems for transportation. The trains are not running and the Cusco airport is closed until at least tomorrow, so the only way out is by helicopter. The clinics are open for anyone who can get to them.
Like many natural disasters, mudslides cannot be predicted. If you are visiting or planning to visit a mountainous — or even just hilly — region that has recently experienced heavy rainfall or snowmelt, you may want to reconsider your plans.
Ideally, you will never be in the path of a mudslide, but just in case, it’s a good idea to note these instructions from the Red Cross:
Though you don’t want to spend time dwelling on worst case scenarios while preparing for vacation, a few minutes of planning can prove to be invaluable.
Whether you’re planning a road trip in your own car or flying to a cold climate and renting a car this winter, you should assemble a winter emergency kit for your travels. In addition to the possibility of getting snowed in there is also a risk for getting stranded on the road. Because we live in an area prone to snow and ice, my co-workers offer suggestions on what to keep in your trunk for your daily commute and road trips in the winter:
First Aid Kit/Flashlight/Flares – Include these items in your winter emergency kit, and keep them in your car through the rest of the seasons.
Blankets – You’ll want one if you get stranded in the cold somewhere due to an accident or a break down and your car loses power and can’t provide heat.
Boots, Gloves – These will be handy if you have to get out of the car for ANY reason, like walking to get help or if you drift off the road into a snow bank.
Snow Brush/Ice Scraper– Be prepared for whatever visible evidence of winter sticks to your car.
Shovel – Find one that is easy to store (with a short or retractable handle), you’ll find it useful if you get snowed in or plowed in anywhere.
Rock Salt/Sand/Kitty Litter – Put any of these items behind your tires to create traction to help you get out of slippery situations.
Jumper Cables – These are always a good idea, but are especially valuable in the winter when your battery may succumb to the freezing temperatures.
Portable Battery Charger - This is a step-up from just jumper cables; you can charge your battery without the help of another car. Some models include an outlet so you can use it to charge your cell phone or other devices. It’s worth the price because you can also use it to plug in small home appliances indoors if the power goes out.
Windshield Wiper Fluid – Snow, ice and the dust from salt on the roads can constantly coat your windshield as you’re driving down the road. Make sure that you have a full reservoir of fluid before you set out on your journey and bring a refill so you never have to worry about limited visibility on the road.
Food and Drinks – Pack items like granola bars, cookies, or trail mix that won’t be affected by the extreme cold and will provide a fair amount of nourishment if you get stuck somewhere. Keep water in your car as well, it may freeze, but will melt eventually and will help you avoid dehydration.
Did I forget anything? Share your tips with us.
Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/genista/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
Just take a moment.
We woke up this morning to the horrifying images of the earthquake that hit Haiti last night. The scope of it is too large to grasp, and many people are trying to make sense of the loss and destruction, wondering whether any hope lingers over the city of Port-au-Prince today.
Some people are scrambling to find information on family members living in Haiti, and others are struggling to find a way to help. The Haitians who survived the earthquake and the aftershocks are now grappling with loss on an enormous scale, grieving for friends and family and exposed to the elements without clean water or shelter. So today and in the days ahead, take a moment to reflect that regardless of your situation, you should be grateful for what you have. Take a moment to pray that these people will find comfort and hope. Take a moment to donate more than you may be comfortable giving. Just take a moment.
(A quick search on the internet turned up several outlets for donations such as The Red Cross, Global Giving and this detailed list from ItsJustLight.com.)
