First Aid:                                                     Back
 
1. Sunburn: Indonesia sits on the equator and it is very, very easy to get a devastating sunburn. Make sure your covered 
    with a good coating of sun screen. For bald/or guys with  thin ning hair, let's keep a hat on when in direct sun. Kuta is a 
    topless beach, so girls if you choose to join the European set, remember to get a base tan before staying in the sun to 
   long. Remember too, since we probably partied late into the night, It's easy to fall asleep on the beach but that innocent 
   act can be devastating in the tropics. Use caution!
2. Lip balm: Highly recommended, it's amazing what salt water, a sea breeze & tropical sun can do to these organs of 
    love. Who wants to kiss a coconut husk.
3. Prickly heat: Most of us will be going to Bali/The tropics from colder dryer climates. One of the skin problems we may 
    encounter is prickly heat. While our body adjusts to the heat our sweat glands go crazy trying to release bodily fluids 
    which cool us through evaporation, however since our pores are not yet fully open we may form little blisters in areas 
    where we sweat a lot. (these little pockets of sweat that couldn't get to the surface are prickly heat.) The only way to 
    avoid this is to stay as cool as possible while our bodies adjust to the change in climate. (our pores open.)
4. This causes another troublesome problem fungus: Fungal infections (Athletes foot/Jock itch, etc.) are common due to 
    moisture on the skin. Bathe often wear loose fitting clothes that have the ability to breath. i.e. no synthetics a good 
    choice would be the beautiful cotton batik that Bali is noted for, also use a good talcum powder.
5. Heat exhaustion/stroke: the first is a problem & could lead to the second DEADLY. However these shouldn't pose 
    any real trouble as long as you stay cool and with all the water on Bali that shouldn't be difficult. WARNING: Heat 
    and alcohol are a dangerous combination.
6. Wounds are a real danger in the tropics, where bacteria are extremely common, not only in quantity but also in  
    diversity. Infections set in fast and can be extremely hard to get rid of. Wash any wound often (With clean water & 
    soap.) use an antibacterial  ointment and keep covered. Splinters cause a puncture that even after the splinter is 
    removed is hard to get to with an antiseptic, the germs left behind could pose a real  problem watch this type of wound 
    closely.
7. Abrasions usually leave a large area of damaged skin exposed to bacteria and again what might not be a problem back 
    home could easily ruin your vacation.
   7a. I went to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. back when the boys were there (Easter Vacation 1962) Now known as spring 
         break. Anyway having seen people (In movies) climb coconut palms I thought it looked easy. I found out (The 
         hard way) it wasn't, after sliding down from about a third of the way up, my chest, arms & legs, which I had 
         wrapped around the tree to keep from falling were covered with small abrasions. I didn't bother to do  anything 
         about them, after all they had scabbed over nicely and hadn't really bleed that bad anyway. WRONG after about 
         two days I started to ooze pus from everywhere. It took me a couple of weeks to clear up the infections. I didn't
         even realize at that time that they were infections. I thought that COCONUT PALMS had a poison in their bark. 
        What finally took care of my infections were sea water and sun. I was lucky.   Al
8. Another thing to watch out for: Since our feet are covered with shoes and socks most of the time we don't form the 
    calluses our friends in the tropics do and are therefore more prone to damage to the bottoms of our feet.
   8a. Burns: Not only stepping on a lit cigarette butt carelessly tossed away but also the beaches, Sand sitting all day in 
         the tropical sun can/does get extremely hot, especially  Black Sand. wear a good footwear on the beaches. Sandals 
         won't work (The hot sand will slide between your feet & the sandal.)
    8b. Parasites such as the larva (from dog & cat worms) can enter the body directly through the skin and cause all 
          kinds of medical troubles.
    8c.  Athlete's foot: Need I say more.
                                                      WEAR SHOES OR SANDALS ALL THE TIME
                     Check here for information on Fungal infections and all other medical problems.