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Warning
The information provided her is not intended as a substitute for
qualified medical advice. It is provided on the understanding that we
are not responsible for any situations arising either directly or
indirectly from the information provided here.
Immunisation
If your expedition is taking you outside Europe, and especially if your
destination is Africa, you need to start thinking about immunisation.
Even with the right precautions protection is not guaranteed - your
level of protection depends on too many variables for the vaccinations
to be 100 % successful in protecting you.
Malaria can be a killer - visit the
MARA website
for an excellent malaria risk resource.
You should consider getting the following shots
(Information from Trailfinders):
● Yellow Fever - Obligatory in most of sub-Saharan Africa. Check
your certificate is correctly filled in, stamped, and up to date. Good
for 10 years.
● Cholera - Not generally given nowadays, but it's a good idea
to have the certificate to avoid money-grabbing officials - ask your GP
for info. Good for 6 months.
● Havrix - Hepatitis A protection for 10 years if you get a
second injection 6-12 months after the first.
● Tetanus - Good for 5-10 years
● Polio - Good for 10 years
● Typhoid - Good for 12 months
● Meningitis - I believe you need the C strain for Africa, not
the standard European shot - don't assume your nurse will know the
difference. Good for 3 years
Also to be considered:
● Rabies, expensive and only buys you 24 hours
● Hepatitis B
● Diptheria
Trailfinders, among others, can give you a vaccination card
with the appropriate certificates included - remember to record
you blood group, though you probably want to avoid transfusions. |
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First Aid
What you carry should reflect your where you're going a well as personal
skills and needs. If you carry first aid equipment that you don't know how
to use yourself the chances are that it is a waste of space - unless you
first aid kit takes up half the car it will not contain anything that,
generally speaking, virtually every doctor in Africa already has at hand;
don't be fooled by out-of-date stories of lack of drugs or resources.
Work with two medical and first aid kits; a big one that stays
with the vehicle, and a little one in your day pack - as covered in the
personal equipment section.
Several months before the trip explore the possibilities of
attending a course in IV procedures - intravenous fluids are very
useful in stabilising casualties in the event of an accident - and vehicle
accidents are the most prevalent danger to travellers on this type of trip,
so there is a definite value in learning how to set up an IV drip.
Basic first aid knowledge is essential, Below is a suggested
first aid pack, and you will need to know how to use all of it:
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Emergency Dental Kit - From Boots, and get a bottle of Clove
Oil too
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2 x Resusci Face Shields - these include gloves and HIV
barriers. Lots of gloves too.
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Assorted burn sheets and saline (also useful for irrigating
eye injuries).
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Assorted Bandages, flexible splint (flexisplint) , tape,
safety pins.
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Assorted wound/ambulance dressings.
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Assorted basic procedure or wound care packs (contain
everything for dressing a wound).
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Shears (for cutting through clothing), various disposable
scalpels, forceps and clamps.
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A big pot (100) of Mediwipes or similar - great for cleaning
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Good sterile needle/syringe set for all eventualities, though
not as essential as it used to be now that HIV education is getting
through
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Assorted Plasters, steristrips, Melolin and Primapore, and
sutures
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Savlon, Iodine, a space blanket and a thermometer
And if you are including IV equipment:
Medical Kit
Apart from wound cleaning keep everything that could be classified as a drug
in a separate pack. Again this list is reflects one opinion - check what
your GP thinks would suit you:
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Avomin 25mg - stops nausea
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Arsumax 50mg* - Also locally recommended as the best (new)
way of treating Malaria with zero reported side effects. A tenth of the
price of Malarone.
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Augmentin 375mg - wide spectrum antibiotic
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Ear drops - ask your chemist what is best for swimmers ear
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Eye drops - dust in eyes is a real problem - a good
anitbiotic drop is worth taking.
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Ibuprofen 400mg* - generic painkiller, like Neurophen only
twice the strength and a tenth of the price
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Imodium 2mg - block you up when you need to travel - I avoid
it if I can and let nature take it's course (but I also haven't had any
more than minor tummy problems)
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Larium 250mg - malaria protection, also taste great and make
your dreams a whole lot more interesting - there are issues with this drug
but it is by and large effective and my body tolerates it well - get
informed before you decide as it costs a fortune.
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Malarone 250mg - suggested by Trailfinders as the best
malaria cure - very expensive
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Piriton 4mg - cheap, safe and simple antihistamine - for
itches, mossie rash.
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Sudocrem - From the baby section in Boots - Nappy rash cream
- seriously.
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Bactiflox 500mg* - Antibiotic for bacteria in your gut.
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Fasigyne 500mg* - Treatment for Guiardia.
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Vermox 500mg* - For worms.
(Note: the last three above are on recommendation from a
missionary doctor working in Mali - you will need to find out how to
identify the individual symptoms to use them effectively)
*The starred the drugs are available in Africa as generic
brands which cost far less than in Europe.
Ethical Issues
At some point in your journey you are almost certain to witness
a serious accident or the aftermath of one (almost always involving
vehicles). Before you begin your journey give some thought about how you
intend to react when this happens.
Also consider whether there is a difference in a request for
assistance for an injured Mandinka, a white expat, or another white
traveller, because these are issues that are better addressed before you
experience the shock of a real accident scene.
Remember that if you do choose to offer assistance, and blood
is present, there is a very real risk if HIV infection, and protection
should always be used.
A further issue for consideration is the unfortunate fact that
if you are white and the victim is not, when the authorities arrive you may
be held responsible for the accident - whether you were involved or not -
you are simply seen as an easy target for compensation for the victim.
Likewise, you will constantly be asked by the locals to give
them medicine - it's a common form of begging however genuine the need.
Consider carefully the issues of responsibility if drugs you give are sold
on or misused (especially antibiotics), or if they provoke an allergic
reaction.
These seem to be very negative approaches, but it is better to
be aware of the risks and to have thought about the issues than to wade in
without thinking.
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