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 … [Read more...]
Avoid the Pain of Sunburn and Heat Exhaustion
Up until now, I’ve been sunburned 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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
Save Your Life: Wear a Medical ID Bracelet!
Getting sick while you are on a trip is not only a drag, but it can be downright frightening - even life threatening - especially when you don't have an excellent command of the language. I know exactly how frightening and frustrating it is not to be able to communicate properly with a doctor after getting a horrific infection in Mexico some years ago that very nearly cost me my leg. A big part … [Read more...]