Safety when travelling
With travel such a popular and available commodity these days, it
is important to know any safety issues before departure.
Plan ahead
Seek advice from your Doctor and arrange vaccinations at least
two months before your departure. If your plans are last minute,
vaccination is still beneficial, as it will give you some
protection.
Emergency treatment in the european union
Get a T6 leaflet from the post office (Health Advice for
Travellers), which includes an E111 form for free emergency medical
treatment in the European Union.
Know the risks
For a country-by-country checklist of the health hazards
associated with your destination visit the National Travel Health
Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)
Be informed
British Airways Travel Clinics offer up-to-the minute
information on worldwide health risks, plus vaccines customised to
your itinerary. Call 020 7439 9584 for an appointment.
How can I make it easier to feed my baby if I go
abroad?
If you are breast-feeding, continue to feed your baby as normal,
but remember to pay extra attention to food hygiene and ensure that
all fruit and vegetables you eat have been properly washed. If you
are unsure about the quality of the water, use bottled water. In
these circumstances, ice cream and ice in drinks are best
avoided.
If you are bottle-feeding, contact the manufacturer of your baby
milk, to see if the brand is available in the country you are
travelling. If not, you may wish to take adequate supplies with
you. Boiled tap water may not be suitable for preparing feeds.
Alternatively you can use bottled water, but remember that they are
not sterile and will still need to be boiled. If you are concerned
about the water purity, liquid ready-to-use milks are a useful
alternative. Remember to be extra careful about the cleanliness if
you're preparing food for your baby. All fruit and vegetables
should be carefully washed.
Travelling by boat or an aeroplane
A seat with extra legroom and one, which is close to the toilet,
is always an advantage. If you are flying, you can help prevent
your baby's ears from popping uncomfortable when taking off and
landing by letting him/her breast or bottle-feed. The sucking
action will help his/her ears pop more easily
If you are bottle-feeding, contact the manufacturer of your baby
milk, to see if the brand is available in the country you are
travelling. If not, you may wish to take adequate supplies
with.
Boiled tap water may not be suitable for preparing foods.
Alternatively you can use bottled water, but remember that they are
not sterile and will need to be boiled. If you are concerned about
water purity, liquid ready-to-use milks are a useful
alternative.
Remember to be extra careful about the cleanliness if you're
preparing food for your baby. All fruit and vegetables should be
carefully washed.
Safety precautions on a bus, train or tube
You may need to protect your baby from any sudden movement, so
holding your baby's travel seat on your lap or placing it securely
on a seat is best. Make sure the harness is done up. See if there
are any baby facilities.
Travelling by car
Never travel with your baby on your lap and never leave him/her
alone in the car. Keep the doors locked when you are in the
vehicle. If parking on the side of the road, make sure that the
side where your baby is sitting is next to the kerb. Buy a car
seat, which is suitable for your babies' age and weight. Always
make sure that your baby is securely strapped into the seat and the
seat is securely installed in the car according to the
manufacturers instructions.
Milk feeds when you are on the move
When bottle-feeding, ready-to-use liquid milk is ideal for
travelling. Some airlines liquid milk but always check that the
facilities are available before your journey. If you prefer to make
up the feed at home in advance, keep them in a cool, dry place
during your journey.
Solid feeds when you are on the move
You might think that using jars of baby food would be the
easiest way to feed your baby when you are travelling. However,
with a little preparation, homemade food is as easy to use. Good
hygiene standards are required - it should be consumed within 3
hours (6 hours if kept in a coolbag).
Useful items are as follows: - plastic feeding bowls with lids,
plastic storage pots with lids, plastic spoons and forks and a
container to keep them in. Wet wipes or a damp flannel to clean up
afterwards and finally a small supply of washing-up liquid might be
helpful.
Useful websites
Further information
Vaccines are normally given by General Practitioners
(GPs). To make an appointment to see one of our General
Practitioners please call Appointments on 020 7460
5700.