Health Services Travel Clinic

 

Travel Clinic services are available to Winthrop University Students, Faculty, and Staff only.

Eagles planning to travel or study abroad, please e-mail the Travel Clinic Nurse directly at reedyf@winthrop.edu or contact Health Services at wuhealth@winthrop.edu or 803/323-2206 to schedule an appointment.

Winthrop Travel Clinic Services Offered:

  • Advice on what to pack for medical and first-aid needs
  • Review of current health status and evaluation of health needs abroad
  • Review of current immunization status and prescriptions for required and recommended vaccines specific to region of travel
  • Education and health information about current international health issues, including food, water and insect precautions, and disease risks
  • Prescriptions for preventive medications, including malaria pills specific to your region of travel


General Travel Precautions

    • General rule: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it. Be sure to eat only fruits and vegetables that you can wash and peel yourself.  Make sure that all food is well-cooked and avoid food from street vendors that have been sitting out.
    • Water: In developing countries, tap water may not be clean and drinkable as it is in the developed world.  Organisms in the water could make you sick, even if the local population is able to drink the water, so use bottled water even to brush your teeth. Be sure to drink only bottled, canned, or, carbonated beverages, and do not use ice cubes.
    • Traveler's Diarrhea, aka Montezuma's Revenge, is generally caused by something you ate or drank and is particularly a problem for travelers to warm climates. 
    • Bites or stings of some insects (mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and bees) can cause poisoning, injury, or transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis.
      • Take advantage of preventive medicines (such as for malaria) and vaccines if indicated.
    • Avoid perfumes and use unscented soaps, shampoos, and deodorants.
    • Dress in pale colors rather than bright colors.
    • Use insect repellents containing 30-35% DEET, permethrin insecticide on clothing, and mosquito netting at night if recommended.


Suggested Packing List

    • Your prescriptions
    • Traveler's diarrhea antibiotic
    • Medicines to prevent malaria
    • Glasses and contacts
    • Medical alert bracelet or necklace
    • Diabetes testing supplies
    • Insulin
    • Inhalers
    • EpiPens
    • Over-the-counter medicines, such as:
      • Diarrhea medicine (Imodium or Pepto-Bismol)
      • Antacid
      • Antihistamine
      • Motion sickness medicine
      • Cough drops, cough suppressant, or expectorant
      • Decongestant
      • Pain and fever medicine (acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen)
      • Mild laxative
      • Mild sedative or sleep aid
    • Hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) or antibacterial hand wipes
    • Water purification tablets
    • Insect repellent (with an active ingredient like DEET or picaridin)
    • Sunscreen (with UVA and UVB protection, SPF 15 or higher)
    • Sunglasses and hat
    • Condoms
    • Earplugs
    • 1% hydrocortisone cream
    • Antibacterial or antifungal ointments
    • Digital thermometer
    • Oral rehydration salts
    • Antiseptic wound cleaner
    • Aloe gel for sunburns
    • Insect bite anti-itch gel or cream
    • Bandages
    • Disposable gloves
    • Cotton swabs (Q-Tips
    • Tweezers
    • Eye drops
    • Copies of your passport and travel documents
    • Copiees of all prescriptions (medications, glasses, or medical suppplies)
    • Health insurance card and documents
    • Proof of yellow fever vaccination (if required for your trip)
    • Contact card with the street addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of:
      • a family member or close contact in the United States
      • your health care provider(s) at home
      • lodging at your destination
      • hospitals or clinics (including emergency services) in your destination
      • US Embassy or Consulate in the destination country or countries