Environmental risks to Canadian children travelling overseas

Canadian children and youth travelling overseas face numerous environmental risks, including trauma, extreme temperatures, sun exposure, high altitudes, environmental pollution, and a variety of bites, stings and envenomations. Because skilled emergency response is limited or nonexistent in places where serious illness or injury is most likely to occur, avoiding or limiting these risks is imperative. Travel and paediatric health care providers must be able to identify environmental risks and to advise parents appropriately. Anticipating potential dangers and planning preventive strategies in advance can reduce both parental anxiety and the risk to children.