FAMILIES, couples and individuals from Worcestershire, who are about to jet off to sunnier climes for their annual summer holiday, are being warned to prepare in case they fall ill while they are away from home.

The NHS advises people to start preparing for their trip four to six weeks before leaving and read the latest health and safety advice for the country being visited using https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad and http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

One of the first jobs is to find out if vaccinations are needed for the country being visited. If diseases like malaria are a risk then treatment might have to start before travelling.

Prepare a travel health essentials kit including sunscreen, painkillers and antiseptic. Sunscreen bottles should show at least four-star UVA protection and at least SPF15 to protect against UVB. Also consider taking condoms to avoid buying fake and potential unsafe brands while abroad.

It is vital to have the right travel insurance whether it’s for a six-month trek to the Andes or a week in Spain. Make sure it covers the destination, period of stay and any specific activities like water sports, climbing or cycling.

Take a valid European Health Insurance Card when travelling on the Continent. It entitles people to free or reduced-cost medical care but doesn’t provide everything that travel insurance can, such as emergency travel back to the UK.

Anyone who thinks they are at risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) should speak to their GP. For long-haul flights people should get up and move around as much as possible, take in fluids, avoid alcohol and wear loose comfortable clothes.

Those with a history of DVT or pulmonary embolism, cancer, stroke, heart disease, inherited tendency to clot, recent pelvic or leg surgery, obesity, who are pregnant or on HRT may be at risk of DVT.

Travellers taking medications such as insulin or oral contraceptives, according to a strict timetable should seek professional medical advice for going into a completely different time zone.

The NHS also recommends that people visiting countries with poor sanitation do not drink tap water or use it to brush their teeth unless it has been treated. Filtered, bottled, boiled or chemically treated water should be used.

Also in countries with poor sanitation avoid eating salads, uncooked fruit and vegetables, fresh or cooked food that has been left standing at room temperature in warm temperatures or exposed to flies, unpasteurised dairy products, raw or undercooked shellfish or seafood and street food unless it has been recently cooked and served on clean crockery.

Take your travel insurance documents with you so that if you have a medical emergency while abroad you can contact the travel insurance company. An assistance company is usually appointed to help arrange the necessary medical treatment.

People can also contact the British Consul for help as Consular staff can offer practical advice, help and support with things like finding a local doctor.