Health

The major health risk in the Bahamas is traveler's diarrhea. This is most often caused by ingesting fruits, shellfish, and drinks to which your body is unaccustomed. Go easy at first on new foods such as mangoes, conch, and rum punch. There are rare cases of contaminated fruit, vegetables, or drinking water. If you're susceptible to digestive problems, avoid ice, uncooked food, and unpasteurized milk and milk products, and drink bottled water, or water that has been boiled for several minutes, even when brushing your teeth. Mild digestive treatments might include Imodium (known generically as loperamide) or Pepto-Bismol, both of which can be purchased over the counter. Travelers prone to travel-related stomach disorders who are comfortable with alternative medicine might pick up some po chai tablets from a doctor of Oriental medicine or Asian pharmacy -- it's a great stomach cure-all. Drink plenty of purified water or tea; chamomile is a good folk remedy. In severe cases, rehydrate yourself with a salt-sugar solution ( 1/2 teaspoon salt and 4 tablespoons sugar per quart of water).

Consult a doctor -- preferably your own physician, and prior to your trip -- before ingesting any medication that's new to you. Pack familiar digestive remedies with your belongings, but also have them on you if you're out traveling for the day.

No-see-ums (sand fleas) and mosquitoes can be bothersome. Some travelers have allergies to sand-flea bites, and the itching can be extremely annoying. To prevent the bites, use a recommended bug repellent. To ease the itching, rub alcohol on the bites. Some Out Island hotels provide sprays or repellents such as mosquito coils or citronella candles, but it's a good idea to bring your own.

Hospitals and other health care facilities are readily available in Nassau, Freeport, and Grand Turk. In the Out Islands, facilities range from clinics to private practitioners. For more serious emergencies, an airlift can be arranged from any location. The most serious accidents and illnesses may require treatment in the U.S., most likely in a hospital in Florida; less severe emergency cases will be sent to Nassau or Freeport. The costs of a medical evacuation, especially to the U.S., can quickly run into the thousands of dollars, and your personal health insurance may not cover such costs. If you're planning on pursuing inherently risky activities, such as scuba diving, or if you have an existing medical condition, check your existing policy. You may want to consider buying a medical insurance policy that lasts the duration of your trip.

Major Local Hospitals

Princess Margaret Hospital (Shirley St., Box N-3730, Nassau. 242/352-2861). Rand Memorial Hospital (East Atlantic Dr., Box 40071, Freeport. 242/352-6735).

Divers' Alert

Always know where your nearest decompression chamber is before you embark on a dive expedition, and how you would get there in an emergency.

Decompression Chamber

Bahamas Hyperbaric Centre (Box CB-10981, Nassau. 242/362-5765).

Over-the-Counter Remedies

Pharmacies carry most of the same pain relief products you find in the United States, but often at a higher price, so pack any over-the-counter medications you regularly use. They also sell a product called 2-2-2, which is equal parts aspirin, caffeine, and codeine. It's an effective pain killer but can cause upset stomach.

Shots & Medications

A vaccination against yellow fever is required if you're arriving from Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Peru, and Sudan. Travelers must be vaccinated 10 days prior to entering the Bahamas and must have a valid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever. Otherwise, no special shots are required before visiting the Bahamas.

Sunbathing

Basking in the sun is one of the great pleasures of a Bahamian vacation, but because the sun is closer to Earth the farther south you go, it will burn your skin more quickly, so take precautions against sunburn and sunstroke. On a sunny day, even people who are not normally bothered by strong sun should cover up with a long-sleeve shirt, a hat, and pants or a beach wrap while on a boat or midday at the beach. Carry UVA/UVB sunblock (with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 15) for your face and other sensitive areas. If you're engaging in water sports, be sure the sunscreen is waterproof. Wear sunglasses because eyes are particularly vulnerable to direct sun and reflected rays. Be sure to drink enough liquids -- water or fruit juice preferably -- and avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol. Above all, limit your sun time for the first few days until you become accustomed to the rays. Do not be fooled by an overcast day. Quite often you will get the worst sunburns when you least expect them. The safest hours for sunbathing are 4-6 PM, but even then it's wise to limit initial exposure.

Health Warnings

National Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC. 877/394-8747 international travelers' health line. www.cdc.gov/travel). World Health Organization (WHO. www.who.int).