Health tips for Austria

There are no specific inoculations or health precautions necessary for a trip to Austria. Reciprocal Health Agreements Members of the EU, citizens of the UK and Ireland receive free emergency hospital treatment in Austria on production of their passport, though there may be a charge for any medication. It is recommended to have a comprehensive travel and medical insurance as medical treatment is expensive in Austria.

The sun and the cold are probably the worst enemies in Austria. Sunburns are easy to get in the mountains due to the combination of a thin atmosphere and reflection off snow, ice and/or water. High-factor sunscreen / sun block (factor 25 or more), a hat and sunglasses / ski visors are essential.

Due to combination of excessive cold, wind and driving rain with hunger and fatigue can lead to hypothermia. The symptoms of hypothermia include exhaustion, lethargy / dizziness, shivering, numbness in the extremities and slurring of speech. In the initial stages, you must get the sufferer out of the elements and under cover, replace all the wet clothing with dry garments, give them hot liquids and high-calorie sugary food such as chocolate.

Virtually all high-altitude walks in Austria stay below 3000m. It is the rough cut-off point above which Altitude Sickness can rear its head. Headaches, dizziness and breathlessness are the main symptoms, which should pass after a day or two at altitude. If they do not, then you must head downwards.

If you are anywhere near woodland below 1200m, there is a possibility to receive attention from ticks. They bury themselves into your skin to suck blood. The medically favored way of extracting them is to pull them out carefully with small tweezers. There is a very slight risk of having diseases from ticks such as encephalitis. The symptoms for encephalitis are similar flu initially. If they persist, you should see a doctor immediately.

Water is safe to drink all over Austria, whether from taps or from the ubiquitous public street-fountains. The fountains may look unsafe, but always gush with pure spring water. The places marked with "Kein Trinkwasser" usually accompanied by a pictogram of a crossed-out drinking glass should be avoided for drinking purposes. Do not drink water from mountain stream, as they might be contaminated. Always carry a water purifier or bottled water when heading towards a beaten track.

Emergency Telephone Contacts

Ambulance (Rettung)          144

Police                               133

Fire                                  122

(Source: www.hoteltravel.com)