Medical Students in Action!: Travel Tips & Items

Preparation for the trip and items to bring; we work five days from Sunday through Thursday

Passport and photo copy of passport to keep in luggage
Cash, small bills: we exchange money in the DR for Pesos current exchange 1 USD = 33.7375 DOP
Notify your bank and credit card company that you will be in the DR
Personal medications
Snacks, powerbars, peanuts etc….
Sunglasses
Flash light
Canteen or liter water bottle
Extra pair of eyeglasses if needed
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Bug repellent with DEET
Baby wipes
Toiletries
Hat or hair covering
Purell hand gel
2 suitcases: 1 for packing MSA medications other for personal clothing
Garbage bags for dirty clothes
Close tip comfortable shoes for working
Socks
Bathing Suit
Undergarments
Fanny pack
Surgical scrub tops and pants 4 pairs
There is cellular coverage for Verizon, ATT and T-mobile. Contact your provider for a temporary international plan.
Shower sandals
Jeans and shirts for evening wear
All people should notify the embassy of your stay in the DR from our web site. Links to CDC and Embassy
Medical Students:
Towels
Sheets
Stethoscope
Pen Light
Reference books
Otoscope
Sign Release for UM Medical School Students
Additional items: Back Pack

Staying Healthy During Your Trip
Prevent Insect Bite
Many diseases, like malaria and dengue, are spread through insect bites. One of the best protections is to prevent insect bites by:
• Using insect repellent (bug spray) with 30%-50% DEET. Picaridin, available in 7% and 15% concentrations, needs more frequent application. There is less information available on how effective picaridin is at protecting against all of the types of mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
• Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a hat outdoors.
• Remaining indoors in a screened or air-conditioned area during the peak biting period for malaria (dusk and dawn).
• Sleeping in beds covered by nets treated with permethrin, if not sleeping in an air-conditioned or well-screened room.
• Spraying rooms with products effective against flying insects, such as those containing pyrethroid.
Be Careful about Food and Water
Diseases from food and water are the leading cause of illness in travelers. Follow these tips for safe eating and drinking:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel (with at least 60% alcohol).
• Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
• Do not eat food purchased from street vendors.
• Make sure food is fully cooked.
• Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized.
Diseases from food and water often cause vomiting and diarrhea. Make sure to bring diarrhea medicine with you so that you can treat mild cases yourself.
Avoid Injuries
Car crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers. Protect yourself from these injuries by:
• Not drinking and driving.
• Wearing your seat belt and using car seats or booster seats in the backseat for children.
• Following local traffic laws.
• Wearing helmets when you ride bikes, motorcycles, and motor bikes.
• Not getting on an overloaded bus or mini-bus.
• Hiring a local driver, when possible.
• Avoiding night driving.
Other Health Tips
• To avoid animal bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague) do not handle or pet animals, especially dogs and cats, If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention to determine if mediation or anti-rabies vaccine is needed.

Health in Action: Providing Opportunities for Education and Collaboration at the University of Michigan •

Health in Action (HIA) is an inter-campus initiative at University of Michigan founded by medical students in 2002 to promote collaboration and social responsibility in healthcare workers through volunteer services in underdeveloped areas. HIA is in its second year of a long-term partnership with Manos A Tiempo, a non-profit organization in the Dominican Republic, and Medical Students in Action at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. Manos A Tiempo is lead by Dominican professionals, educators and healthcare workers dedicated to assisting rural and developing areas in the Dominican Republic to become healthy, thriving communities. Together, they make tangible improvements to public health infrastructure, while providing undergraduate, engineering, social work, public health, social work, dentistry, nursing and medical students at the University of Michigan opportunities to collaborate, gain first-hand experience working with developing areas, and obtain insight on serving the needs of the global community. HIA is working with Rancho al Medio, a village of 1400 people, largely women, children and the elderly. There is a great need for primary education, health education, and preventative health care. HIA funded the installation of electricity at the schoolhouse, built two community wells, run several health education seminars and clinics, and brought local physicians and public health officials to assist in serving the needs of Rancho al Medio. *Tammy Chang, M3 & MPH Candidate; School of Public Health, University of Michigan; tachang@umich.edu. Co-Author: Mikel Llanes, M2

Translated from Spanish

Give thanks to God because there are still people like you. There are no words to describe my gratitude to all of you everyday. Thank you for always being friends and lovers of life being caring and romantic and understanding us with so much patience in times that are hard for us. May God bless the work you take into your hands and allow you to live a long life for being able to realize your dreams.
Thank you for helping me be understood in front of God and orally for you being my salvation and because God guides your footsteps and may he guide you and may you and all of your friends prosper. Thank you
Arelis Guzman