IT’S HOLIDAY season again, but before you set off for warmer climes take the time to prepare well to make sure your trip abroad doesn’t affect your health.
Sort out your EHIC: If travelling in Europe this summer, an up-to-date European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), formerly known as the E1 11, is essential.
As it needs to be renewed every two years, it’s likely that the card lingering at the back of your wallet is now out of date. Moreover, if your family has had a new arrival, it’s time to get them covered too.
The card entitles you to access to healthcare through the public system in the country you are travelling to should you fall ill, and applies not just to the 27 EU member states, but also to Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
If you’re going to the UK, a card is not necessary, as to get access to the NHS, you will just need to show proof of residency in Ireland. To get a new EHIC or renew an existing card, log on to ehic.ie.
It’s also worthwhile checking out how the scheme applies in the country to which you’re travelling. For example in France, a visit to the GP must be paid for and then reimbursed, while in Germany such a visit should be free.
Bring adequate supplies: To avoid the stress of running out of medication when abroad, Darragh O'Loughlin, president of the Irish Pharmacy Union, recommends you bring more than you need, and store it in your hand luggage when travelling. "Bring an extra week's worth in case of emergency," he advises.
You should, however, bring a copy of your prescription with you just in case, and if you do find yourself without medicine somewhere in the EU, O’Loughlin says pharmacies can dispense off that, or can contact your own pharmacy to verify it. Outside the EU, you will need to see a local doctor.
It’s also important to be familiar with the generic name of the drugs you take rather than the brand name, so you can ensure you are getting the right products.
“It’s a good idea to be familiar with what medication you’re taking and why, and to keep some record of it,” says O’Loughlin, adding that if you had to be admitted to a hospital following an accident, those treating you would be aware of this.
It’s also a good idea to bring along a basic first aid kit, with eyewash, bandages, antiseptic cream, paracetamol, indigestion/diarrhoea remedies, etc.
Storing medicine in hot countries is also important and, according to O’Loughlin, you need to make sure that the temperature you store medicine at is equal to, or below, 25 degrees, as above this could impact on its effectiveness.
Don't skimp on travel insurance: If you already have private health insurance, it's likely that you will be entitled to some cover when heading abroad. For example, if you're a member of Quinn Health Manager, then you will be entitled to emergency cover to the value of €100,000, as well as up to €2 million towards the cost of transport abroad or back to Ireland if appropriate treatment isn't available locally.
However, if your destination is North America, €100,000 is unlikely to last very long, given the cost of medical cover there. Moreover, even if you have a EHIC and are travelling in Europe, it may not cover the full costs of treating your illness or injury, and doesn’t include repatriation cover, so an additional travel insurance policy may also be needed.
The VHI’s annual multi-trip product, for example, offers medical cover of €5 million for €49 a year, while at 123.ie you can get €1 million in cover on a similar policy for €36.84.
If you have a pre-existing illness and are finding it difficult to get cover, it may be necessary to opt for the advice of an insurance broker. For example, certain insurance providers, such as ACE and AIS Direct, offer cover to people with cystic fibrosis.
Don't forget the little ones: When travelling with babies, particularly for the first time, it's important, if not breastfeeding, to bring enough formula supplies for baby, as brands and products differ from country to country. Failing to do so might see the baby reject the new product, while changing feeds can also lead to constipation.
And, while it is generally suggested to drink bottled, rather than tap water in many foreign countries, O’Loughlin recommends that when making up a baby’s bottle, you opt for the tap water – ensuring that you boil it first. If you do want bottled water for baby, he suggests looking for a product that is plain, rather than mineral water, and which is low in calcium and sodium.
Bringing medication for baby is also important, and should include oral rehydration sachets, Calpol or Nurofen, and paracetamol suppositories. According to O’Loughlin, these can be slightly more effective in bringing down a fever as they have a slightly higher dose of active ingredients.
Protect yourself from the sun: With rates of skin cancer expected to rise dramatically over the coming years, the importance of protecting your skin, and that of your family, cannot be over-stated. Skin cancer is now the most common cancer in the 15-44 age group, so applying sun protection, of at least SPF 30, is key.
“We’re in a habit of not putting enough on,” says O’Loughlin, who urges people to apply it generously and frequently, noting that it needs to be re- applied after swimming as drying yourself with a towel can make it come off.
In general, you need at least 30ml to cover an adult’s total body, with a teaspoon for your face given as a rough guide, and it is recommended that you hold onto sun cream for no longer than a year.
If you’re going to wait until you get to your holiday destination abroad to stock up on cheaper sun creams, think twice. While sunshine may not be plentiful in Ireland, UVB and UVA rays still penetrate, so it’s necessary to wear sun cream here too.
And women shouldn’t rely on their everyday moisturiser, which may contain SPF, for sun protection – many don’t offer protection against UVA rays, which can contribute to premature skin ageing and cancer.
Be careful if buying medicines abroad: While the cost of medications have come down in Ireland, and there is an increasing supply of cheaper, generic products available, many people still look to stock up while abroad.
However, O’Loughlin recommends that you don’t purchase medicines in the Far East, as they may be counterfeit, and there is no guarantee that you will get the product you think you’re getting.
Also, he cautions against stockpiling drugs, as your GP could go ahead and change your medication soon after.
Don’t forget to call home: With mobile roaming charges now much reduced when travelling in the EU, O’Loughlin suggests putting the number of your local pharmacy and GP into your mobile before you travel.
This means that if you have any concerns, you can call home rather than struggling to make yourself understood in a foreign country.
