In some ways, while filming the show we almost simulated life as a carefree backpacker, because we deliberately took chances that many travelers take by accident. I'm passionate about foreign travel, particularly to remote regions, and I always enjoy myself, but that doesn’t mean that I don't take care not to become one of the statistics. So here are some basic tips that should help you to stay healthy and enjoy your vacation.
1. I often hear people who claim to be "anti-vaccine" or against anti-malarials for various spurious reasons. For me, it's simple. Vaccines and anti-malarials work! In most cases they will protect you from serious illnesses. Of course, there are people who have traveled to the tropics without vaccinations or anti-malarials and survived, but there are also many casualties who have become very ill, crippled or even killed by viruses, bacteria and parasites while travelling. It's simply not worth taking the risk.
2. Malaria isn't by any means the only disease carried by biting insects -- and insects don't only bite at night or in the evening. For example, Dengue fever is a huge problem in many places, and just one of many nasty insect-borne illnesses that can make humans seriously ill. There is no vaccine to protect against the virus that causes Dengue, no treatment once you have contracted it, and it is spread by day-biting mosquitoes. So cover up and wear insect repellent whenever you are in regions where insect bites are a risk.
3. In warm, humid climates infections can progress much more quickly than in cooler more temperate regions. So if you cut, burn, or graze yourself, even if it’s a tiny wound, look after it. Cover it up and keep it clean. I know of a motorcyclist who burnt his leg on the exhaust of his bike in India. Over the next day or so his leg began to turn very red around the wound and he felt a bit under the weather so he went back to his beach hut to rest. The next thing he knew he woke up in hospital with a leg missing! If he hadn’t been discovered by a friend he would have died because the wound had become infected and he had developed septicaemia (an infection of the blood). Ultimately his leg had to be amputated in order to save his life.
4. Sleeping bag liners are brilliant. They’re cheap, light to carry and can be used whenever you think that your sleeping place is going to be less than clean. They can give you the confidence to sleep almost anywhere. I always say that if you can master eating and sleeping when travelling you’re 99 % on your way to a successful and enjoyable trip.
5. Be careful where you swim. I don’t want to sound like a killjoy, but swimming can lead to some pretty unpleasant diseases. In Borneo I accidentally picked up two nasty gut parasites at the same time by swimming in a murky lake, and I’m not alone. A teacher and some kids on a trip from my local school decided it was a good idea to swim across the equator in the crystal clear waters of Lake Victoria in Uganda. Nearly a third of them went down with chronic, and potentially fatal, schistosomiasis infections. It may be essential for the locals to go into the water because they have to feed themselves or wash. There may be no alternative for them, but do your homework before you literally dive in head-first!
6. A huge number of people wear contact lenses, but think about your options before traveling away from home. If you do wear contact lenses opt for the daily disposable ones, because it's very easy to contaminate re-usable types. I have met a couple of people who were irreversibly blinded after introducing an amoebic infection directly into their eyes on their re-useable contacts while traveling. The chances of it happening are fairly remote, but are you prepared to put your eyesight on the line? Why not simply stick to glasses while you are away?
7. It's a small thing, but I love my travel washing line. I'm told that dental floss can also double as a washing line because it's pretty strong, failing that a piece of string. All three can also be useful when repairing luggage, tents, sleeping bags or even motorcycles.
8. There are worms that you can contract through the soles of your feet, so if you are walking around on muddy earth, or on beaches where dogs are present wear some sort of footwear.
9. If you find a leach attached to your body, don't just pull it off. Carry a small lime or a lemon in your pocket. If you squeeze it on the leach it will drop off immediately, and if you don't use it on a leach you can always squeeze it into your drink later.
10. But don't get too stressed out by all the creatures and diseases out there waiting to get you. With some basic common sense you should have no problems.
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