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27.12.06: Many people are longing to spend Christmas holidays abroad

Travelers should be made aware that acclimatization, which may take days, will be required in tropical regions.

When traveling in hot climates, fluid intake should be increased, particularly during vigorous exercise. To avoid dehydration, travelers should be advised not to wait until they are thirsty to drink. During heavy exertion in a hot environment, consumption of two to four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour should be the goal; liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar should be avoided, as they can exacerbate dehydration. A sports beverage or salt tablets can replace the salt and minerals lost in sweat, although in most circumstances plain water will suffice.

Travelers in very hot climates should consider limiting activities to morning and evening hours when it is often cooler, resting as often as needed. Protection can be increased by wearing a hat and by making sure to use sunscreen even on cloudy days.

Symptoms of a Heatstroke include extremely high body temperature (above 103°F); red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating); a rapid, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; and nausea.

Persons with symptoms suggestive of heat exhaustion should rest, drink cool nonalcoholic beverages, and try to lower their body temperature with a cool shower, bath, or swim. If symptoms do not start to resolve within an hour or if they progress to those of heatstroke, attempts to lower the body temperature should be continued and medical attention should be sought immediately.

Cold particularly affects two groups of people: the elderly, because they have slower metabolisms, and the young, because infants and children lose body heat more easily than do adults and are unable to generate sufficient body heat by shivering.

Hypothermia usually occurs at very cold temperatures but can occur at cool temperatures if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, submersion in cold water, and during cold windy conditions. The warning signs of hypothermia include shivering, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion, fumbling hands, and slurred speech. If the body temperature of someone with these signs is <95°F, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Frostbite occurs under very cold conditions when tissues actually freeze, meaning that ice crystals form within the cells, causing them to rupture. Frostbitten skin appears white or grayish-yellow and becomes unusually firm or waxy and numb. Frostbite most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes.

To prevent hypothermia and frostbite, travelers should dress warmly in layers with a hat, scarf, mittens, sweater, and coats. The outer layer of clothing should be tightly woven, preferably wind and water resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will retain more body heat than cotton. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so extra layers of clothing can be removed when becoming too warm. Travelers should also wear waterproof shoes to avoid wet cold feet. In cold conditions, drinking warm beverages and avoiding alcohol will also help maintain an appropriate body temperature.

First aid for these cold-related conditions includes getting the person warm. Persons with symptoms suggestive of hypothermia or frostbite should seek emergency medical attention.

AMC Specialists will give you recommendations and help to get accustomed to the climate of foreign countries.

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