Guide Helps Point Out Dangers

A little known hazard has become a concern for the mature traveler.

Cruise ships, aircraft and other travel carriers use vacuum toilets. When flushed, a considerable surge of air is used.

As a result, senior citizens who might be accustomed to flushing the toilet while still seated are at risk of sustaining severe pelvic injury.

This little nugget of news is in a 70-page booklet, “The International Health Guide for Senior Citizen Travelers,” by Dr. W. Robert Lange of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.

Good Buy

With one exception, that’s about as racy as it gets in the otherwise slightly verbose and sometimes too technical health guide. But for $4.95 (Pilot Books), it’s a good buy and filled with helpful information.

A few samples:

Sunburn: Take care when buying suntan preparations using the “sun protection factor,” or SBF.

“SBF ratings provide only rough guidelines, having been calculated in an artificial indoor environment. Because of many variables present out of doors, including indirect exposure to the sun, protection is usually considerably less than suggested by the rating.

“Also, since the products wear and wash off particularly when swimming or sweating, a cream with an SBF of 15 may more closely resemble a 10.”

Tropical vacations: Check your medication, particularly over-the-counter pills you may have been taking.

“Antihistamines, sleeping aids, allergy pills and cold preparations can affect the heat regulatory centers of the brain and decrease the ability to sweat . . . and adversely affect the acclimatization process.”

Early Shots

Lange says 80% of adults over 60 are susceptible to diphtheria. Therefore the mature traveler heading overseas should get a booster diphtheria/tetanus shot.

The same goes for flu shots for those for whom an annual immunization has been recommended. But get it as early as possible because, Lange says, it takes several weeks for protection to occur following the inoculation.

Some other pointers from the guide:

Carry a basic medical travel kit (he details what one should contain) and include a good antihistamine, not just as a good anti-allergy preparation, but also as a remedy for motion sickness and an effective, yet safe, sleeping aid.

If you are a diabetic and prone to motion sickness, it is important to take medication to prevent it. Protracted episodes of motion sickness cannot only readily precipitate loss of diabetic control, but incur other more serious complications as well.

Most mature travelers know they should not drink untreated water in suspect travel areas, nor chance adding possibly impure ice cubes to bottled water. And to take care even when brushing your teeth.

Lange also says not to sing in the shower.

It’s a very real risk, he wrote, in terms of developing gastrointestinal disease.

Mouth Full

“All too often the showering soprano comes to the abrupt realization that a mouthful of water that is being so painstakingly avoided for drinking has just been accidentally swallowed during an aqua aria.”

Also, how can a mature traveler judge if a restaurant overseas is safe to eat in?

For one thing, the absence of customers at meal time is a significant clue. But so are the absence of screens and the presence of insects. Not only can bugs contaminate the food, but employees in their zeal to control the pests may accidentally spray insecticide in the food.

Such chemical contamination of food and water in developing countries, say some authorities, can be just as serious a problem as microbial contamination.

Lange says the majority of international travelers are inadequately prepared to cope with possible medical problems, including some that are magnified for mature travelers.

His guide starts with pre-departure planning, identifies potential risks and hazards and suggests how to avoid or treat them. It contains advice on heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, food and water precautions, medical preparedness and overseas assistance.

Helpful Resources

Additionally, it lists health insurers, specialized agencies for disabled travelers and other resource organizations.

“The International Health Guide for Senior Citizen Travelers” is available only from the publisher--Pilot Books, 103 Cooper St., Babylon, N.Y. 11701.

One last word from Dr. Lange: A recent report on “Love Boat Hepatitis” disclosed that some severe and protracted cases of hepatitis B occurred among older affluent women who were promiscuous while aboard various luxury ships.