Top 5 Travel tips for staying safe on the go

Avoiding germs in your home is easy if you clean and disinfect regularly, but when you’re out and about – whether it’s for weekend away, or a business trip, or even a holiday – staying safe becomes harder.

Keeping harmful germs at bay can be a challenge when you’re unfamiliar with the environment. Here are a few tips to stay hygienically safe.

Food

If you’re planning a picnic, or having a snack on the go, make sure germs don’t join the party. E.coli, Campylobacter and Salmonella thrive in warm and sunny weather, and they’re known to cause food poisoning, upset stomachs and diarrhoea.

• Keep your raw food separate from cooked food, and try not to leave it out in the sun too long.
• When sharing food, make sure to use cutlery to keep the spread of germs at bay.

First Aid

Accidents like tumbles, scratches and cuts happen. Be prepared when it happens – open wounds are potential entry points for germs.

• It’s a great idea to keep plasters, clean cotton pads and some antiseptic cream with you. Clean any wounds with clean water and a cotton pad and put some antiseptic cream on your wound before covering it with a fresh plaster.

Sightseeing

A trip to an animal farm can be great fun. But remember, touching animals can lead to potential infection.

• Don’t let animals lick your (or your child’s) face, no matter how cuddly.
• After any interaction with animals, ensure everyone washes their hands thoroughly with soap and clean water, especially before eating.

Hands

When you’re out and about, you don’t always have access to soap and water. This is no excuse for poor hygiene.

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, such as Dettol Hand Sanitiser. It kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, ensuring you keep germs at bay – with no need for soap or water. Apply a teaspoon-sized amount to your palm and massage it over both your hands until it’s completely gone
• Always wash your hands before eating, even if they aren’t visibly dirty.

Keeping clean

When you’re travelling, you interact with a lot of different surfaces like door handles, rails, seats and luggage. These surfaces have been in consistent contact with different people, opening the door for germs to spread.

• If you don’t have access to running water, make sure you have some Dettol Antibacterial Wipes or Hand Sanitiser with you for a quick clean up.

For more information on what other products we have when it comes to practicing good hygiene in and outside your home, visit tips page.