Business travel is not without risk. When travelling for business it is important that you are prepared to ensure that you travel safely and remain well, but did you know that your company or organization also has a duty of care to ensure your health, safety and security when travelling?

The ISO 31030 by the international organization for standardization was launched in 2021 and addresses travel risk management. The standard applies to commercial, governmental, educational organisations as well as not-for-profit and charity organisations. Your employer should know of this standard and have used Its framework tool to produce and implement a plan that helps manage the risks of travel, protecting both the organisation and you, their employee traveller.

Every country will have a different risk profile. Risks range from events such as medical emergencies (road traffic accidents), health and mental health incidents, disease outbreaks, epidemics, natural disasters, civil unrest, conflict, crime, security, and terrorism.

Your personal health risk in country will depend on any pre-existing medical conditions and the country health risk. Infectious diseases, quality of medical care in country, access to prescription drugs and availability and ease of medical evacuation will all vary.  Make sure you know what emergency assistance and medical support your company are providing.

What you can do in preparation for travel

Visit a travel health clinic for a pre travel health consultation. Here your travel health risks will be identified, and you will be provided with advice and preventative strategies to reduce these risks. This may include some recommended vaccinations and antimalarials.

 Let’s get started and look at a few specific health risks related to business travel with some advice on how to manage and prevent these. 

Travellers’ diarrhoea

Travellers’ diarrhoea is one of the most common illnesses to acquire abroad and a major cause of illness in business travellers. Food and water hygiene precautions must be taken seriously whether eating in a hotel or enjoying the local street food.

Top Tips to avoid Travellers’ diarrhoea.

  • Wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after using the toilet.
  • Avoid seafood and uncooked meats.
  • Be wary of buffets, especially if food has been left uncovered and exposed to warm temperatures and flies for a long period of time.
  • Eat hot cooked food, remove the skin from fruits and avoid salads.
  • Only drink bottled, boiled or filtered water and avoid ice in drinks.

Business travellers may want to consider travelling with a Nomad Worldwide diarrhoea kit. This kit is designed to self-treat moderate to severe Travellers’ Diarrhoea and contains loperamide, rehydration salts and an antibiotic, Azithromycin. It is ideal for business trips where you cannot afford to lose 2-3 days out of your schedule and avoids the need to seek pharmacy advice in country where there may be risks of counterfeit medication.

 Malaria

Malaria can be a fatal disease. If travelling to a country with risk, then travellers must put measures in place to protect themselves even if travel is only for a couple of days. Mosquitoes that carry malaria usually bite in the evening and night, between sunset and sunrise.

To prevent mosquito bites and malaria:

  • Take your malaria tablets as directed and ensure that the course is completed.
  • Apply a good insect repellent to your skin such as DEET especially in the evenings and during your leisure times.
  • Use air conditioning or a mosquito net in your hotel room. Plug in room vaporisers and knockdown room sprays are also effective for preventing mosquito bites.

(Remember always report any flu like illness such as fever headache muscle ache, nausea to a doctor whilst away and for up to one year after return and state you have visited a malaria risk country).

There are several options available regarding medicine for Malaria prevention. Come and speak to one of our specialist travel health clinicians who can advise you on the best course for you.

Medical kit

Accidents, illness, and common ailments abroad happen, and it is important that you are prepared to manage them. The medical kit is one of the first things you should pack before travelling. Depending on where you visit, access to good medical care may be limited and going to a pharmacy could put you at risk. It is not uncommon to find counterfeit medication abroad that could cause more harm than good.

Medical kit basics:

  • Dressings/ plasters/antiseptic – cuts abrasions.
  • Paracetamol – pain relief.
  • Antihistamine – allergy e.g. – mosquito bites.
  • Rehydration sachets and loperamide to manage travellers’ diarrhoea.
  • Sterile needles & syringes.

Nomad sells a range of medical kits online and in clinic that are suited to your trip and destination. Our specialist Travel health clinicians can help advise you on what to take.

Other travel essentials: Alcohol hand sanitiser, suncream, insect repellent. Any prescription medication (keep medication in your hand luggage and always check they are allowed in the country you are visiting).

Air travel

Cancelations and delays are not uncommon these days.  Air travel can be stressful particularly when there are delays. Be organised with packing, double-check flight details and arrive at the airport early.

Jet lag

Travelling through different time zones causes disruption to your natural body clock. Symptoms include headache, disorientation, and appetite loss. Here are some tips to help reduce the effects of jet lag:

  • Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the flight. Avoid alcohol.
  • Try and take regular naps on the flight.
  • Exercise and try and expose yourself to bright natural sunlight on arrival.
  • Reserve time to recover from jet leg so as not to adversely affect your professional performance.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

The risk of DVT is relatively small. However, risk increases following flights of 8 hours or more. Pregnancy, history of DVT and the combined contraceptive pill also increases your risk. Flight socks should be considered for flights of 4 hours or more. Staying hydrated, moving around the cabin, and exercising calf and foot muscles can help reduce the risk.

Wellbeing

Stress

Travelling for business can be stressful. Workload, leaving friends and family, language barriers, culture shock and unexpected situations are all factors that can increase levels of stress. To help minimise and manage stress whilst away:

  • Plan ahead. Schedule and make arrangements prior to your trip.
  • Prepare for those important meetings.
  • Leave plenty of time to get to meetings. It is easy to get lost in an unfamiliar location and unknown local traffic patterns could make you late.
  • Keep in regular contact with friends and family via video calls.
  • Maintain a good sleep pattern and get enough sleep.
  • Take time to unwind. Include some sightseeing, or some alone time to relax.

Sexual health

Risk taking behaviours can easily be influenced by stress and loneliness, alcohol and drug use and lead to casual and unprotected sex. This increases the risk of Hepatitis B and HIV infections. Use a condom. If you are concerned that you have put yourself at risk, you should seek testing as soon as possible.  A course of Hepatitis B vaccines is available even for last minute travellers.

Further information

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
https://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/occupational-health
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/
https://www.sexwise.org.uk/stis
www.scribd.com/document/599477446/BS-ISO-31030-2021