Travel Guard Offers Free Assistance to Travellers Concerned with Swine Flu Outbreak’s Impact

TORONTO, April 29 /CNW/ – Travel Guard (www.travelguard.ca) announced today it is providing free emergency travel and medical assistance services and travel health information to U.S. and Canadian travellers affected by or concerned with the recent swine flu outbreak. These services include worldwide medical referrals; up-to-the-minute updates on outbreak status and travel areas affected; information on symptoms, prevention and treatment; and coordination of travel arrangements for those in transit.

Travel Guard will also provide information and medical referrals for travellers in transit who believe they may be experiencing swine flu symptoms. Travellers seeking these services can call Travel Guard at 1-866-644-6811 (US and Canada toll-free) or collect at 1-715-295-1209 (for international callers). Travel Guard is also providing information and updates related to the swine flu situation on its websites at www.travelguard.com and www.travelguard.ca.

“Our worldwide travel assistance operations are closely monitoring the swine flu outbreak and its impact on travellers around the world,” said Joel Donin, spokesperson for Travel Guard. “Travellers can contact us for travel updates, health warnings, prevention and treatment tips and other information related to this situation. From allowing trip cancellation due to fear of flying following 9/11, to offering free assistance to travellers concerned with the swine flu outbreak, Travel Guard has a proven track record of supporting travellers.”

About Travel Guard:

Travel Guard is one of the largest providers of travel insurance and assistance in North America, offering consumers a variety of travel insurance plans, all with comprehensive travel and protection services – and backed by superior customer service.

Flying During Swine Flu Outbreak? Protect Yourself!

OK, I love to fly, especially upside-down in a Pitts-Special, but flying commercially leaves me cold for the simple reason that most people are boors and don’t even know how to cover their mouths properly when they sneeze or cough. (Use your sleeve). Years ago, I therefore adopted the habit of ceasing to breathe for extended periods of time when I heard anyone in the cabin sputter and spew forth their unwanted germs.

That reaction unfortunately won’t prove very effective during something like the current swine flu outbreak, which the WHO (World Health Organization) today said is an “imminent pandemic”.

I have no intention of flying anywhere in the near future (planning to T@B down to the next convention at which I’m supposed to speak) but when I do, I plan to at very least wear an N95 Breathing Mask as shown in the picture to the right.

This is a NIOSH certified mask, which was recommended for protection to healthcare workers by both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control during the SARS infection back in 2003.

This N95 Mask includes a special one-way exhalation valve for cooler, easier breathing not included in most N95 masks, and an adjustable nose clip.

Magellan’s sells a pack of N95 masks that includes four disposable masks and fitting instructions.

Avoid the Pain of Sunburn and Heat Exhaustion

Up until now, I’ve been surnburned only once in my life — after sitting in the Mediterranean sun for hours the day after our arrival on the Costa del Sol. That happened when I was 14.

Now fast forward 34 years. What with a huge landscape project underway, trying to get the house and garden ready for our annual Canada Day Eve block party and a planned family visit, I pulled a really stupid move last week.

With temperatures soaring to 100F and not a cloud in the sky, I spent hour after hour over the course of a few days working in the garden wearing only shorts and a bikini top.

No hat, no sunblock and much to my surprise, not only was my back deep-fried, I had a case of heat exhaustion that lasted for 4 days.

Let me tell you, it’s not fun.

According to MedicineNet, “heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment“.

The symptons include:

• heavy sweating
• paleness
• muscle cramps
• tiredness
• weakness
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea or vomiting
• fainting

I fortunately was spared the fainting, nausea and vomiting; but got the rest in spades. Luckily, we have a pool in which I took regular cool dips and air conditioning, which of which are part of the recommended treatment.

Do yourself a favor and spare yourself the pain of it all… sunburn and/or heat exhaustion. Wear a hat, proper skin protection and sun block.

---

Magellan’s carries a vast array of Sun Protection products including fabulous Packable Straw Hats and Sunblock Shirts… both of which were in my closet.

Duh.

---

Malaria: Are You at Risk?

Just one bite from an infected mosquito may be all it takes to become infected and sick with malaria.

Those bitten by a malaria-infected mosquito and become sick with malaria may experience seizures, mental confusion, kidney failure, coma and possibly death.

Let me repeat… malaria can be fatal.

Estimates indicate that over 10,000 worldwide travelers fall ill with malaria after returning home from malaria-endemic areas. The WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that approximately 40% of the global population is at risk for getting malaria and that there are 300-500 million new cases of malaria each year, resulting in 1 million deaths.

Although many travellers believe that they have been vaccinated for malaria — there is NO vaccine for malaria.

When Ed and I travel to malarial regions of the world, we typically opt to use Malarone, which is approved for the treatment and prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in adults and children weighing at least 25 lbs.

We recommend that you contact your doctor to find the treatment that is right for you and your travels to areas of the world where you might be at risk of becoming infected with malaria.

To find out more about malaria please visit the CDC’s malaria page which includes an interactive malaria risk map providing information on malaria risk throughout the world. Users can search or browse countries, cities, and place names and get information about the risk of malaria in that particular location and see recommended malaria prevention medicines for that area.

Blood Clots: Air Passengers Allowed to Sue

Right after Ed posted “Are You in Danger of Getting Deep Vein Thrombosis?“, I read an interesting piece on MSNBC that stated that U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker is allowing 3 lawsuits to proceed by passengers who claim that cramped seating resulted in blog clots.

Apparently these passengers had each complained of pain to their respective airline (Singapore, U.S. Airways and Delta), which in turn did not permit them to switch to seats with more leg room.

Hmmm… let’s see, how would that request go?

“OWWWWWW… can I get a free upgrade to first class?”

I personally would rather avoid risking the blood clot in the first place by buying a first class ticket, wearing those compression socks and following the other recommendations Ed talked about in his post.

Prevention is the best cure!

Technorati Tags: blood clots, flying, lawsuit, compression socks

Next Page »