Family Hygiene and Holiday travel

Seasonal holidays and religious festivals like Christmas and Diwali are an exciting time for families, with many of us travelling at peak times to see relatives and loved ones. Make sure you plan your trip properly so that you and your family don’t spend the holidays feeling poorly.

Planning your trip:

Before you go

Before you pack up for your holiday, check whether you need any vaccinations – even if you’ve been to an area several times before, you may need a booster to keep you protected from insect-borne diseases (such as malaria) for the duration of your stay.

Make a list of medications you need to take, such as antihistamines, diarrhoea tablets, rehydration salts, paracetamol, and ibuprofen. If you or anyone else in your family suffers from a medical condition that requires regular medication, make sure you have sufficient supplies. If you are flying to the destination, remember to carry these in your hand luggage.

If you’re travelling with a baby or young child, check what food will be available at your destination for them to eat so you can plan accordingly.

Your journey

It’s a good idea to carry Dettol Anti-Bacterial Wet Wipes to use on the plane, train or in the car, so you can sanitise your hands and surfaces throughout the journey.

When people travel together in a confined space on public transport, germs can transfer easily, both through the air and via frequently touched surfaces. To help protect yourself, wash your hands regularly with soap and clean water, or if soap and clean water are not available, use Dettol Hand Sanitiser.

If anyone in your travelling party has a cold or the flu, make sure they use a tissue when they sneeze, dispose of the tissue properly afterwards and keep their hands sanitised to avoid contaminating fellow travellers.

Keep your hands hygienically clean to reduce the risk of spreading germs, wherever you go.

When you wash your hands, spend at least 20 seconds rubbing them with soap and water, paying particular attention to the backs of the hands, under the fingernails, and between the fingers. Use a clean dry towel or paper towel to dry your hands properly.

Your holiday packing list

Take the following items with you on your travels and you’ll give yourself and your family the best chance of having a happy, healthy, illness-free holiday.

• Insect repellent
• A high factor sun cream (for hot climates)
• Diarrhoea tablets
• Rehydration salts
• A small first aid kit
• Dettol Hand Sanitiser
• Dettol Antibacterial Wet Wipes (Hyperlink: Product page TBC)
• Tissues
• Any regular medication
• A clean change of clothes

Can you drink the water?

• Find out whether or not the local water is safe to drink before you travel. If it’s not sanitary, you and your family could suffer stomach upsets, diarrhoea, and as a result, dehydration. Take care in countries where the water may not be safe to drink.
• Boil the water and let it cool completely before drinking
• If you buy bottled water, ensure the seal is not broken
• Brush your teeth using bottled water
• Wash salad and fruit in bottled water
• Ice is often made from tap water, so it may be best to avoid it altogether
• Order hot meals in restaurants, as cooking at high temperatures will kill harmful bacteria (and salads may have been rinsed in contaminated water)
• Be wary of buffet-style food – it may have been sitting in the sun or exposed to flies for a few hours
• Avoid eating ice cream, as refrigerators may be turned off at night
• If the beach doesn’t look clean, don’t swim in the water

Insects and animals

• Always use an insect repellent when you travel to areas where biting insects can be found
• Seek urgent medical attention if you start to feel unwell after being bitten
• Avoid any contact with stray or wild animals. They often carry diseases that they can pass on to you if you get bitten
• If you do get bitten by an animal, wash the wound thoroughly with clean water for at least five minutes before treating with Dettol Antiseptic Liquid
• Even if you feel fine, always get your injury checked out by a doctor straight away
• If you’re visiting an area at risk of malaria infection, make sure you continue to take your anti-malarial tablets as directed after you come home

Travelling is a wonderful experience, and doing it hygienically cuts down the risk of a memory being marred by illness. For more information on what other products we have when it comes to practicing good hygiene, click here.