Visit Your Doctor Before You Go.
Make an appointment with your family physician approximately six to eight weeks before you are scheduled to leave on your trip. This will allow plenty of time for receiving any vaccines you may need and/or starting malaria medication, depending on where you are going. After you have been vaccinated, you should make a copy of your vaccination record to keep with you on the trip. In addition, if for some reason you do get sick while on your trip, you should schedule a checkup exam upon your return to the states to ensure that you are healthy and ready to go back to work. It is also smart to visit your dentist for a checkup before you leave, as well.
Steer Clear of Local Wildlife.
When you are in a tropical location or a foreign city that you are not familiar with, it is wise to stay away from the animals. Do not attempt to pet or touch any of the animals. You should also be very careful when outside to avoid mosquitoes and insects. Apply insect repellent regularly, and wear your shoes whenever you are outside.
When traveling abroad, you should be very careful about what you put into your mouth. In order to avoid food poisoning, make sure your food is fully cooked before eating it. Also, always, always wash your hands before a meal. This will ensure that none of the bacteria on your hands travels to your mouth. Also, if you are traveling to an underdeveloped country, remember that the only drinks that are completely safe to drink are beer, wine, carbonated beverages in cans or bottles, and drinks such as coffee that require boiling-hot water.
Get Some Sleep.
In order to avoid jet lag, a condition that results from the confusion of your body's internal clock, you should start going to bed earlier than usual a couple of days before your trip. This will prepare your body for the coming disruption. Also, when on the plane, try as hard as you can to sleep and set your body to the time patterns of your destination. If you cannot sleep, at least lie back and relax. This will help prevent the side effects that come with crossing time zones.
