Food water and personal hygiene
Food water and personal hygiene
Food and Water
One of the beauties of travelling abroad means you can try the different types of food, whether that is in a restaurant or street food. It is very important to check it’s freshly prepared and served piping hot, especially where meat is concerned.
Fact...
When Staying at a 5* star hotel, the customer is actually paying for the facilities, not the food!
The NHS Scotland Fit for Travel website has lots of useful information with regards to resources available plus food and water precautions before, during and, after travel. Here are some additional tips you can advise to your customers on food, water, and personal hygiene:
- Shower every day including before and after entering swimming pools.
- Wash hands with soap and water after going to the toilet, being near animals, before eating, and after eating.
- Carry antibacterial gel/wipes when it’s difficult to wash with soap and water.
- Brush and floss teeth twice a day and use a toothbrush holder.
- Cover mouth and nose with a tissue (or your sleeve) when sneezing or coughing.
- Before purchasing bottled water, check the seal is intact. If in doubt, it’s safer to drink carbonated water or other flavoured drinks.
- Drink plenty of fluids if you get diarrhoea.
- Avoid touching the face as much as possible.
- Keep nails clean and short.
Other useful top tips
- Keep surfaces in your hotel room as clean as possible. (It may not be done properly by the chamber maid, and they may not be practicing quality infection control).
- Avoid unnecessary contact in communal areas such as toilet door handls and coffee machines. Even food tongs at the buffet, although essential, can be a way of transmitting micro-organisms.
- Don't take a used plate back to the buffet but change it each time.
- Avoid overcrowded communal areas especially swimming pools, hot tubs, etc. Check they are also sanitised regularly.
- Quality hotels / cruise ships will usually have a cleaning schedule so check it. It's not a guarantee of work done but a useful guide.
