Water And Travelling

Water is the most important component of our daily routine. But, during travels, while we give much importance to the kind of food we take, many a times, we forget to pay much attention to what we drink.

The result of this is that, the travel plans goes haywire and one is forced to stay indoors inside the hotel room. If proper attention is not paid to what we drink, diarrhoea, dysentery and other water born disease may afflict.

This problem is more acute in persons, who have prior heart and kidney problem and it can even pose a risk to life. In some places, one may suffer from hepatitis by drinking contaminated water. Hence, care should be taken with regards to the water we drink during travel. 

It is a fact that you cannot store and carry water with you for the entire period of your travel. You have to depend upon the local supply to get the water. The rural and remote areas are more prone to the prevalence of such diseases then the urban areas.

The centres for disease control and prevention has also listed out the places and countries where there is more risks of water borne disease, and have asked people to be more careful while carrying out travels to those places. 

So, what should we do to prevent the onslaught of the water borne disease during travel? The possible hygienic steps that we can take to avoid them are as follows – 

During travel, it is always better to go for bottled water. Always try to inspect the seal, as in some places, the bottles might be the refilled ones. If there is any doubt regarding its authenticity, drink carbonated water instead, as it is supposed to be more authentic.

Always wipe the outer part of the bottle carefully and allow it to dry. The bottles are generally kept in a container of ice to keep them cool and the outer part gets smeared with moisture, which might contain harmful organisms.

Bottled water should also be used for brushing of the teeth during travel. Also, care should also be taken so that the sink water does not contaminate the brush during brushing.

During travel, it is advised to drink boiled water, as it is the best way to make it pure and fit for drinking. This practice can very well be done while going on travel to remote places and rural areas. While camping in the forest areas, this could also be followed.

It is also advisable to carry a potable water filter while travelling. They can protect against protozoa, bacteria etc.

While going for swimming, care should be taken. While swimming in the sea is considered safe as the salt water inhibits the breeding of bacteria and virus. But swimming in lakes and rivers is hazardous, as they are contaminated.

For this, a bath should also be taken in the hotel to minimise the effects of bacteria on the body. These are some of the ways by which you can keep yourself free from any water-contaminated disease, while undertaking any travel.