Sunday, April 19, 2009

How to Stay Safe on A Tropical Island

By Matthew Kepnes

Though it is a pleasure to laze around in the sandy beaches of tropical islands, there are many things to that can get in our way of having a memorable and wonderful holiday. Islands can be a lot of fun but if you don't practice good safety, they can be a disaster. You could get sick or injured. Though most people only get sun stroke or a few bug bits, there are many things that can happen to you while away. Here are some tips that can help you stay safe during your next island holiday:

It is very important that you guard against tropical insect bites that can be dangerous to your health. Since tropical islands have thick rain forests and are very humid, they have many dangerous insects that can bite and cause harm. You want to make sure you don't get malaria or dengue fever as well sick from some other insect bit. Mosquito repellents are important to make sure you always carry with you. When you go outside, you want to always make sure you apply some repellent, especially during sunrise or sunset when mosquitoes are most active. If you live on the seashore and keep the doors and windows wide open to let the sea air come in then you need to get your room cleared of pests and insects.

Don't forget your common sense at the airport. Be sure to watch your belongings and other personal items while you are away. Most islands have a lot of tourists going to them making them rich with cash and the target of thieves or con artists. Be sure to watch your valuables and don't flash a lot of money around. Being on vacation is no excuse for not practicing common sense.

Make sure to spend a limited amount of time in the sun. You don't want to get burnt or end up with sun stroke. Be sure to apply a lot of of sunscreen while outside. Make sure to choice a high SPF and let the sunscreen dry before you go outside as sunscreen doesn't work when it is wet. If you are getting burnt, get out of the sun. Getting burnt can lead to sunstroke and you don't want that to happen. You want to go home with some color not looking like sick lobster.

Lastly, be careful about what activities you do. Scuba diving, parasailing, jungle trekking may all seem like fun things to do but they come with many risks. Make sure you go with licensed tour operators with a proven record of safety. Moreover, make sure your travel insurance covers you if you get sick or injured. The last thing you want to do is go on vacation, break a leg, and then find out you don't have insurance to cover the costs.

Islands are pretty safe destinations- more so than say a safari in Africa. However, no place is 100% safe and there are still many things that can go wrong while you are on holiday and lounging on a beach. Be sure to practice good island safety tips so that you will not have your holiday ruined by some small disaster that could have been easily avoided. No one wants a holiday full of bad memories. - 16887

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