Safety Tips
Food
Avoid uncooked, pre-cut fruit and vegetables. Stick to fruits and vegetables that you can peel or wash in purified solution yourself. Oranges, apples, bananas, avocados and mangoes are all good. Remember to wipe the fruit down before peeling it so you don’t end up with all the bad stuff on your hands.
Water
Never drink unpurified water, even where the locals do. Do not even brush your teeth with unpurified water. Bottled water is cheap and easy to find.
Avoid eating food sold on the streets
Street vendors do not typically use proper sanitation practices, and the food may contain a high level of bacteria. Vegetables and fruits must be washed in a purifying solution such as bleach or iodine. Generally, the more processed and packaged the food, the less harmful bacteria it will contain. We recommend that you pack snacks, such as granola bars. Keep all open foods in Ziploc bags, especially sweets!
MEDICAL INFORMATION
Maranatha requires that each volunteer have a current tetanus shot (within the last 10 years) prior to traveling to Honduras. Complete health, and immunization information for the traveler can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov/travel or (800) 232-4636. Please consult your doctor regarding which immunizations you should have before traveling.
Preventative Medicine
Please note the following precautions.
Wash your hands frequently, but especially before you eat. Handy Wipes or disinfectant hand gel are convenient ways of sanitizing your hands. Don’t bite your nails or lick your fingers.
Drink lots of fluids
Excessive physical exertion combined with prolonged exposure to the sun can dehydrate your body quickly. Drink only purified, bottled water. Be aware of ice cubes, as they may not have been made with purified water. Also bring a water bottle with a wide mouth for refilling and washing. Powdered Gatorade is a great thing to have as well to keep you hydrated. It’s not readily available in Honduras, so bring some along.
Sunblock & insects
Wear sun block any time you are outside, even if your skin is naturally dark. You’ll be closer to the equator, so you’ll react to the sun’s rays much more quickly.
Use insect repellent and take other personal protection measures (see CDC’s guide to travelers) to reduce contact with mosquitoes, particularly from dusk to dawn. We recommend insect repellent with a DEET range of 20 percent to 30 percent.
Complete health/immunization information for the traveler can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control, (www.cdc.gov/travel) or (877) 394-8747. We recommend making these decisions with the advise of your health care provider
Expect some discomfort
You may have some gastro-intestinal discomfort when you travel. The stress of travel, changing your sleep schedule, and changes to your diet are all factors that will affect your health. Each person can expect some discomfort and possibly illness during this trip. If you plan for it, you’ll be better equipped to handle it if it
7does happen. Bring a small first-aid kit for your own use that contains items such as Band-Aids, Tylenol, Tums, Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, activated charcoal capsules, sunscreen, etc. You may also ask your physician for some antibiotics to carry with you. If you are not feeling well, please let your group leader know.
PASSPORTS MUST BE VALID FOR 6 MONTHS PAST THE LAST DAY OF YOUR TRIP!
TRAVEL SAFETY
Several things must be considered when traveling in Latin America. Educating yourself about the culture and being aware of where you are can keep you safe. To make your trip as safe as possible, consider the following advice from the U.S. State Department for international travelers.
· Safety begins when you pack. Leave valuables at home. Dress conservatively. A flashy wardrobe attracts attention.
· Use a money belt or concealed money pouch for passports, cash and other valuables.
· Don’t leave valuables unattended in open sight.
· Avoid marginal areas of cities, dark alleys and crowds. Do not stop if strangers, including street vendors, approach you on the street, watch your wallet closely.
· Whenever possible, don’t travel alone.
· Avoid travel at night.
· Do not entertain beggars as this can create chaos for you and the rest of the team.
· Do not bring items that are expensive or of sentimental value. There are several products on the market to assist the traveler in maintaining possession of their valuables, such as cash and passports. Check www.rei.com for Eagle Creek products. This high-quality line offers a large selection of products for travelers.
CAMERAS AND PHOTO STORAGE
Bring enough memory cards or be able to burn a photo CD or DVD with your own equipment.