Wednesday, September 4, 2013

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - Sept 2013

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

September, 2013

 

 

 

A Hail of a Good Time

 

Our last show of the season in Sunriver, Oregon, was full of good music, close friends, fun conversations – and hail.  Lots of hail.  In August.  Hailstones the size of marbles blasted the festival on Friday, shutting down the entire festival for about an hour.  Fortunately we came through the storm with minimal damage and a fantastic conversation starter for the rest of the weekend.  This bit of excitement added to a great experience, and we look forward to showing in Sunriver again next year (though hopefully minus the hail).  Thanks to all who came to see us – or to spend the weekend with us!

 

 

 

Staying Healthy While Traveling

 

While it is never fun to get sick, becoming ill on a trip is especially unpleasant.  An illness while traveling can cause you to miss the very opportunities that made you want to travel in the first place.  In extreme cases, it can also be quite dangerous to fall ill while traveling.  Modern medicines may not be available, you may be far from help, or you may be in a situation of decreased natural immunity due to physically demanding activity.  Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to minimize your risk of getting sick while traveling.

 

As in your day-to-day life, one of the most important steps to staying healthy while traveling is good hygiene.  Hand washing with soap and water is not always an option, however, and even when it is, the water may not be safe – and don’t for a minute think that you don’t accidentally touch your eyes, mouth, and nose at some point after washing.  Hand sanitizer can play a crucial role in fighting off the bugs that like to live in non-potable water, so wash, dry (but don’t use a communal towel; if that is your only option, just let your hands air dry), and douse your hands with hand sanitizer.  You don’t have to be in some exotic locale for this to be a necessity; even large cruise ships are notorious for getting people sick from contaminated water.  Consider hand sanitizer to be as important as toothpaste on your travels.

 

So much of staying healthy revolves around water.  Unsafe drinking water is one of the major causes of illness for travelers, from hikers to beach-dwellers on the world’s coastlines.  Most of us are familiar with the concept of Montezuma’s Revenge, and those of us who have experienced it will never forget it.  In extreme cases, the dehydration and diarrhea that comes with water-borne illnesses can be life-threatening.  Clean drinking water is an absolute must.  Hikers have long carried water purification tablets with them, and these work very well, though they can sometimes leave the water with an unpleasant taste.  In recent years water purifiers that use ultraviolet light to kill the nasties have become popular, and they don’t change the taste of the water.  Be sure to follow the directions for both the tablets and the UV purifiers carefully; improper use will render them ineffective.  Boiling water is still a tried and true method, but travelers at elevation must be careful – water boils at a lower temperature at higher elevations, and it must be boiled longer to kill the bugs.  Be certain to have the water at a full, rolling boil for at least a minute at sea level, and add another minute for every 1000’ above sea level.  Drinking bottled water is another common way to ensure clean water, but depending upon where you are traveling, you should be careful with it, too.  In some places, water bottles that have simply been refilled with the local water are common.  Be certain that any bottled water you drink is properly sealed before you imbibe.

 

If you are in a place where the water is unsafe, do not eat any vegetables or fruits that you do not peel yourself.  Use treated water not only for cooking and drinking, but for brushing your teeth, making ice cubes, and anything else that may put the water in contact with your mouth.  Make a point to keep your mouth closed in the shower, and don’t swim in contaminated rivers or lakes.  If you do get sick, try using Pepto Bismal or a similar over the counter medication to treat the symptoms, and, ironically enough, try not to let yourself get dehydrated.  If these measures are not sufficient, a prescription strength antibiotic may be required – visit your doctor or your local travel clinic and fill the prescription before you leave, so you have the medicine available when you need it.  Be sure to complete the entire course of medication – you don’t want the strongest bugs surviving in your gut to make you ill again. 

 

If you are traveling internationally, visiting a travel clinic before you leave is always a good idea.  Not only can they provide you with a prescription for the appropriate antibiotic, they can also provide most other immunizations you may need.  Some vaccines are simply suggested (sometimes very strongly suggested), while others may be required.  For example, yellow fever vaccinations are usually required to travel from one country to another in Africa, while antimalarials are not (they fall into the strongly suggested category).  Travel clinics can also give you up to date, location-specific information about any current health risks that may exist at your destination.  It is a good idea to check with the clinic at least six months prior to your departure.  Some of the common vaccinations are in a series that take up to six months to complete, and your immunity will be strongest once the full series has been concluded.

 

Of course, ensure that you carry with you whatever medications you need for any specific health conditions you may have.  If you are flying, keep these in your carry-on bag rather than in your checked luggage, just in case your checked luggage decides to visit a different destination than originally planned.  Keeping your medications in their original packaging and carrying a copy of the prescription with you will help to minimize any difficulties you may encounter while crossing borders.

 

Finally, having a basic first aid kit with you can keep many small issues from becoming large ones.  Cleaning cuts and scrapes with an alcohol wipe, then covering them with an antibiotic ointment and a bandage will keep them clean and help to keep them from getting infected.  Moleskin can help prevent blisters.  Basic medicines such as aspirin and anti-itch creams (and / or Benadryl if you have any allergies) can soothe otherwise day-ruining aches and irritations.  These kits are readily found at a wide variety of stores, or you can easily make your own.  We have used ours many times – as often to help others as for ourselves.

 

We wish you many happy – and healthy! – travels.

 

 

September Specials

 

Get 10% off of unframed, 8x12 prints of “Masquerade – Sea Lion” and / or unframed, 8x12 prints of “Peaceful Motion” when you order from our specials page. As with all of our unframed prints, these prints are eligible for our No Hassle Returns. 

 

 

Fun Facts

 

The fourth Saturday of September marks International Rabbit Day.  How much do you know about these adorable critters?

 

·         Female rabbits are called does; males, bucks, and babies, kits or kittens.

·         There are approximately 30 species of rabbits.

·         A jackrabbit fleeing from a predator can reach an impressive 45 mph.

·         Rabbits have a remarkable range of vision that encompasses almost 360°, having only a single blind spot – right in front of their noses.

·         Coney Island is named after the rabbits, called coneys in Middle English, that were once quite numerous in the area.

 

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

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CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

774-277-9682