Travel Minx

Once upon a time, in March 2007 in fact, I visited Cambodia. One afternoon at around midday I went to a land mine museum and met an amputee orphan who told stories about the land mines and the devastation they caused.

While he was talking, I felt myself swaying. His voice sounded far away. Spots appeared in my vision. My ears rang. I looked around for a seat, but there was none. The next thing I knew, I was lying face-down on the ground. People were gasping, and hands hauled me up. Water was thrown on my face as I came to.

I’m not usually a fainter; it must have been the combination of intense heat, humidity, jetlag, dehydration and probably a dose of anguish as I listened to the sad tales of land mine victims.

It is not uncommon to travel to a country with a climate very different to the one you are used to. It might be searingly hot. It might be suffocatingly humid. If you are small, or old, or heavy, or with low or high blood pressure, it can be hard to cope.

So what to do? You don’t want to miss out on an adventure because it’s a little warm outside, and you probably want to avoid embracing the ground like I did. The trick, as always, is to be prepared.

• Avoid the hottest part of the day (10am-2pm) if possible.
• Give yourself time to acclimatize to a new environment. If it’s boiling hot, don’t run around. Take it slow.
• Look around: what are locals doing? Are they back home at certain times? Napping under a tree at midday? Follow their lead.
• Stay hydrated. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Carry water with you so you don’t run out.
• Carry food. Salty snacks are best if you have low blood pressure.
• Check the seasonal temperatures when planning your trip. Do you need to travel at the hottest time of the year? Monsoon weather can be refreshingly cool, with rains falling mostly at night time.
• If you are feeling faint, put your head between your knees to return some blood to your head.
• Consider carrying a fan, water spray, and a hat. Wear loose clothing. No jeans!
• Opt to hang out in the shade if you can. Standing in the sun too long can result in heat stroke.

Related Reading:

• Hot Weather Health Threats from HealthAtoZ.com