Tips for Safe Travel
Before you leave be sure to check your benefits booklet.
Your benefits are subject to certain conditions and limits. Please review your coverage before you leave as travel plans may vary.
Be aware of any exclusions that may apply to your plan. Information relating to your health prior to the trip may be requested from your family physician or specialist before the eligibility of the claim can be confirmed.
What to pack when travelling out-of-country
What to include in your first aid kit
• Medicine for diarrhea, upset stomach and motion sickness
• Eyewear prescriptions
• A supply of any medications you are taking
• Cough and cold medicines
• Pain medicines
• Decongestants and antihistamines
• Antibiotic ointment and hydrocortisone cream
• Adhesive bandages and moleskin for blisters
• Sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15
• Hand wipes/ sanitizers
Stay safe and avoid illness
Eat carefully: steaming-hot, well-cooked food is usually safest. Avoid foods from street vendors, unpasteurized dairy products and raw or undercooked seafood. Peel fruit yourself!
Drink water from commercially-sealed bottles. Avoid ice. Use bottled water when you brush your teeth.
If going to a country with a risk of malaria, your doctor may prescribe preventive medicine. Start taking this before, during and after your travels as prescribed by your doctor.
If visiting a country with increased risk of mosquito-borne disease, use an effective insect repellents that contain DEET. Wear permethrin-coated clothing and use bed nets while you sleep.
Avoid using overcrowded public transportation and choose vehicles with safety belts, if possible. Wear a helmet if travelling by bicycle or motorcycle.
Avoid driving at night or in unfamiliar areas without local guidance.