If travelling to a different country, learn the culture before you go – especially the do’s and don’ts. Behaviour that is acceptable in this country may get you into real trouble in another.
Protect your eyes and skin: sun damage increases the risk of skin cancer, and speeds up the skin’s natural ageing process.
If you know you’re going to travel at least twice in a 12-month period, consider an annual travel insurance policy instead of single trip cover – it can work out cheaper.
Schedule outdoor activities to avoid the hours when the sun is at its strongest – when directly overhead. Doing this can help to minimise exposure. Where possible, rearrange your day’s schedule to spend time outdoors when the sun is lower in the sky – early mornings and late afternoons (11am-3pm).
Sunscreen: SPF 15 filters out approximately 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays. SPF 30 keeps out 97 percent and SPF 50 keeps out 98 percent. No sunscreen can block all UV rays.
The Sun Protection Factor of sunscreen means how long your skin will take to redden (for example, 20 minutes) compared to if you weren’t wearing it, i.e. SPF 15 means it will take 15 times longer.
When choosing sunscreen, take into consideration: Broad spectrum (protects against UVA and UVB rays), waterproof, longlasting and Sun Protection Factor (SPF – the higher the number, the greater the protection).
Be liberal with your sunscreen. According to Cancer Research UK, people don’t apply as much sunscreen as they need to. If you don’t apply enough, you won’t get the protection that is claimed on the bottle. Make sure you cover all exposed skin, including the tops of feet, ears and the back of the neck.
The European Health Insurance Card is free and lets you get state healthcare at a reduced cost or sometimes for free in all European Economic Area countries. It will cover you for treatment that is needed to allow you to continue your stay until your planned return.
To treat sunburn, apply a cold compress to the affected areas, apply a cooling gel or aftersun lotion, and avoid sun exposure until the discomfort resolves.