Water
Tap water is not safe to drink. The best is bottled water. Make sure that the bottle carries an SLS certification and that the seal is broken only in your presence. Make sure not to re-use plastic bottles as government has been warned.
Heatstroke
Sometimes, those who have spent too long in the sun, suffer what is called a heatstroke, the most common form being caused by dehydration. This condition can occur if the body’s heat-regulating mechanism becomes weakened and the body temperature rises to unsafe levels. The symptoms are a high temperature – yet a lack of sweat – a flushed skin, severe headache, and impaired coordination. In addition, the sufferer may become confused. If you think someone has heatstroke, take that person out of the sun, cover his/her body with a wet sheet or towel and seek medical advice. To avoid heatstroke take plenty of bottled water to replenish dehydration. The water of the King Coconut is a splendid alternative.
Sunburn
When you flop onto the beach or poolside lounger for a spot of sunbathing, Always remember to apply a sunscreen product with a sun protection factor of at least 15. Remember you are just 600km from the equator: even with sunscreen, your sunbathing should be limited in time.
Prickly heat
Prickly heat rash occurs when your sweat glands become clogged after being out in the heat for too long or from excessive perspiration. The rash appears as small red bumps or blisters on elbow creases, groin, upper chest or neck. To treat it, take a cold shower, clean the rash with a mild soap application, dry yourself, apply hydrocortisone cream, and, if possible, a product that contains salicylic acid. Repeat every three hours.
Health precautions
The health risks in Sri Lanka are different to those encountered in Europe and North America. Watch out for bowel diseases such as diarrheas’ and amoebic dysentery, vector borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and a variety of fungal infections. Sri Lanka’s physicians, many of whom have trained in the West, are particularly experienced in dealing with locally occurring diseases.
Local health care
Minor health problems can always be treated by doctors in the resorts and elsewhere in the country. If you have a more serious problem, Colombo now boasts a selection of modern, well-equipped private hospitals offering the latest in conventional medical and surgical therapies. A growing number of foreigners is taking advantage of affordable, high quality private healthcare in Sri Lanka, and combining it with the chance to take a holiday. Though the medical tourism industry in Sri Lanka is still in its early days, a number of private hospitals in Colombo are geared to provide advanced surgery and other treatment to international clients (link to Medical Tourism article). [Can check this for advertisements from private hospitals for the GUIDE.]
Time difference
Sri Lanka Standard Time is five hours and a half ahead of GMT. (Allowance should be made for summer-time changes in Europe.)
