Friday, November 21, 2014

Trip Preparation

SAFETY
·         Dominican tap water is not safe for drinking. Therefore do not allow any water to get into your mouth while taking a shower and do not use tap water to brush your teeth.  Fill your personal water bottle from the safe water provided in the places where we stay and carry it with you at all times.  Keep a small bottle of safe water with your toiletries and use that exclusively for tooth brushes.  If at any time you feel ill with pain, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. inform your instructor immediately.

·         There are no speed laws posted in the DR.  People drive fast with many people standing up in the back of the trucks.  Use your instincts.  If you don’t think it is safe to ride in these vehicles, then it probably isn’t.  Do not ride motoconcho (scooters). Extra care needs to be taken when walking or crossing roads.

·         NEVER GO ANYWHERE ALONE!!!  You must always be accompanied by another group member.  If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic.  Use our flashlight at night when walking to town.  You can avoid many potholes and unevenly paved sidewalks, and the oncoming traffic you will be able to see.

·         Do not pet the dogs, cats or other animals you may encounter.

·         Do not bring any item with you that it would upset you to lose.  This includes expensive jewelry, ipods, iphones etc.  This is too tempting for someone who is curious and may have nothing.

·         *The possession or use of illegal drugs (cocaine, marijuana and narcotics) is a criminal offense.  Don not take ay packages into the Dominican Republic or take any packages back to the US unless you know what is in them.  This could be considered an attempt to smuggle drugs.  If you are caught, in either country, you will be arrested and prosecuted.

Plumbing
Nothing can be disposed of in Dominican toilets.  The sanitary system in the DR has not been designed to handle anything except for human excretions.  This means NOTHING else can be disposed of in the toilets.  This includes toilet tissue, garbage, hygiene supplies etc.  There will always be a waste basket next to the toilet where ever you go.  In case you forget, please keep a disposable glove on you at all times to be able to retrieve the paper before flushing.  Most toilets flush like those in the US, but some may not have enough water pressure and will need a bucket of water to flush.  We don’t want to cause a plumbing disaster at our host family’s home.  This will become second nature towards the end of the trip.

Traveling Checklist:
  • Passport, Airline Ticket, $10 bill to purchase Visitor’s pass at Airport
  • Copy of your passport at home and in another place in your travel bag
  • $100 dollars to convert to pesos at the Santo Domingo Airport
  • Health Education Project
  • House Gift for Host Family (ex. Dish Towels, Table cloth, fragrant lotion, perfume)
  • Water container
  • Flashlight (needed for walking at night)
  • Earplugs and eye coverings (for sleeping)
  • Shower bag (not essential)
  • Insect Repellent with DEET
  • Sunscreen
  • Alarm Clock
  • Reading light
  • Batteries
  • Camera
  • Notebook for Journaling
  • Toilet Paper

Personal Care Items:
·         Medications, eyeglasses, contact lens and solution
·         Sunglasses
·         Analgesic (Tylenol)
·         Pepto Bismol
·         Imodium
·         Tampon/Sanitary Napkins
·         Hand sanitizer
·         Soap, bath towel, hand towel and wash cloth
·         Disposal razors
·         Brush/comb
·         Reading light
·         Snacks: Resealable or individually packed snacks (granola bars, crackers and cheese, crackers and peanut butter, cliff bars etc)

Clinical Material:
·         Name tag
·         Box of latex free gloves
·         Blood pressure cuff – adult (pedi if available)
·         Stethoscope
·         Penlight or small flashlight
·         Plastic trash bags
·         Box of 1 gallon zip lock bags
·         Anti-bacterial wipes (300-400 sheets)
·         Pen/paper
·         Fine tip permanent marker
·         Notebook
·         Wristwatch
·         Drug handbook
·         Spanish-English dictionary
·         Scrubs – 2 pairs
·         Sneakers
*White flat sheet 1/2
*Permanent Colorful Markers (for fabric)

Clothing suggestions:
·         Shirts with collars for men
·         Skirt/collars for men
·         Skirt/cotton dresses for women
·         Lightweight jacket, sweater
·         Swimsuit and beach cover-up
·         Nightgown or Pajamas- two set
·         Cotton T shirts 5, Underwear/bras-5
·         Cap with visor
·         Cotton ankle socks- 5pair
·         Shoes flat (close toed) and sandals – Flip flops for shower
·         Lightweight long pants. Shorts
·         Costume jewelry (EXPENSIVE JEWELRY SHOULD BE LEFT AT HOME)

Donated Items:
·         Baseball caps
·         Sunglasses, reading glasses
·         Personal care items:  soap, lotion, shampoo, toothbrushes, tooth paste, razors, elastics
·         Vitamins (prenatal, children, and adult)
·         Vicks vapor rub (muscle rub)
·         Cough drops
·         Acetaminophen (Adults/Children)
·         Robitussin (cough syrups)
·         Ibuprofen
·         Tums or antacids
·         White socks


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