| Travelling by air especially when you are going on | | | | not as good as the one outside. This allows |
| vacation is not without its challenges. You may | | | | viruses and bacteria to spread easily from one |
| have found yourself in a situation where you have | | | | person to another. If you have a contagious illness |
| spent months or weeks planning for that great | | | | it is easy to spread it to others. Also if you are |
| vacation and then a week or two to your travel | | | | going to be wheezing and sneezing and getting up |
| date you come down with a severe case of flu | | | | from your seat every five minutes to go to the |
| or cough. You may also have an allergy or other | | | | bathroom it can be highly inconveniencing to the |
| ailment which may cause you not to feel safe | | | | other passengers. |
| when travelling. You are then faced with the big | | | | 3. You could be refused to board the aircraft so it |
| question, should I or should I not travel? You may | | | | is always best to clear with the airline before you |
| want to consider the following points before you | | | | buy your ticket. Being refused to travel by the |
| make up your mind. | | | | airline after you have purchased your ticket could |
| 1. Get medical clearance from your doctor. There | | | | prove to be quite costly to you especially if you |
| are illnesses that could become more pronounced | | | | are travelling on a special fare ticket as some of |
| because of flying. For example if you have | | | | these tickets are not refundable. Additionally the |
| unstable high blood pressure, asthma, heart | | | | airline may charge you very high fees to rebook |
| problem like angina or suffer from some other | | | | on another flight. It may also be quite |
| allergies. The amount of oxygen within the plane | | | | embarrassing to you being told in front of other |
| cabin may be slightly less than normal air. Most | | | | passengers at check in that you cannot fly |
| people can tolerate this but those who have heart | | | | because you have an illness that may affect |
| or lung problems may find these problems get | | | | others or being ejected out of the plane just |
| worse. Additionally remember that the air in the | | | | before takeoff 'in the interests and for the safety |
| plane cabin is dry as a result of low humidity | | | | of other passengers'. |
| which can lead to dehydration. It is always safe to | | | | 4. You should be careful what medication you |
| check with your doctor before you travel and get | | | | carry and if possible have a prescription from the |
| enough medication to handle any emergencies | | | | doctor. Some countries are very strict about the |
| that may come up during your flight. Pregnant | | | | kind of medication you have with you and it |
| women need to be especial aware of this and | | | | would not be good to find yourself being |
| definitely would desist from flying if they are 240 | | | | interrogated by airport security because you are |
| days and more into their pregnancy. Some airlines | | | | suspected of carrying illegal drugs or worse still |
| will not allow a woman in her 36th week of | | | | you could find yourself in prison! It is better to |
| pregnancy to fly. | | | | check with the relevant embassy or consulate of |
| 2. Think of the other passengers. It is important | | | | the country you are travelling to before you |
| to think of other passengers before you decide | | | | decide to carry any medication with you and it is |
| to travel when you are ill especially if you have an | | | | safer to have a prescription or carry a letter |
| illness that can easily be passed on to other | | | | from your doctor allowing you to carry |
| people. Remember the air quality in an aircraft is | | | | medication. |