Health and Safety

Visiting Your GP Ah yes, the dreaded needle. Coming from a well developed country means that you have not built up natural defences to some diseases which no longer affect the UK. Eating out, walking, hiking and outdoor activities can all change they way your body reacts in different environments. So remember when you are away your only obligation is to yourself, and as they say its better to be safe than sorry!

GapGuru are able to offer advice about immunizations and other health precautions you should take as part of your programme, but taking a look at some books that are specific to your destination can be a good start in finding out what kind of diseases you may need to be immunized against. Some good places to start looking might be:

• The Department of Health Leaflet Health Advise for Travellers from any post office or request a free copy on the health literature line 0800 555777 or online at http://www.doh.gov.uk
• Travellers Health How to stay healthy abroad By Richard Dawood (£9.99) Printed by Oxford University Press.
• The Travellers Good Health Guide By Ted Lankester (£7.99)

Immunizations and anti-malarial medicines should be arranged about 6-8 weeks before you leave because generally you need to wait 1-2 weeks after a booster shot or the last dose of a course to be fully protected. All vaccinations can cause side effects, usually it's just a sore arm or fever for a day, but very rarely serious allergic reactions do occur. So give yourself enough time to get over any reactions before setting off. It is always useful to have a record of your immunizations on a vaccination certificate so you can show any doctors you might need to consult whilst you are away.

And not forgetting

The Sun

Ah yes, this cheeky little fellow. Of course you want to come home with an impressive tan - that's only natural but bear in mind that being on the road and exposed to the sun for long hours is very different from sunbathing at the beach on holidays. Wear a hat (A very good excuse to buy a new hat!) It will protect you from heat and sunstroke. And sunscreen (SPF 15 at least) is an absolute must as protection against skin cancer. If you are in a hot country you'll tan anyway so don't risk getting burnt. The peeling look is NOT in!

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

No excuses here, we all know that the sensible people take precautions and I'll bet they are having all the better time for it. You rarely know someone for long enough to trust them enough to share bodily fluids - so don't. STD's amongst backpackers are on the rise, so don't become a statistic invest in some condoms!

To find out more visit:

• http://www.gapyear.com/
• http://www.who.int/en the World Health Organisation.
• http://www.fco.gov.uk/ the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

There's no need to over-react but be careful. Make sure you have your insurance covered, your shots done, a first aid kit and lots of toilet paper before you set off into the sunset.