Health Issues

Your health is very important to us; so we offer the following suggestions:

Do not drink the water from the faucet - use Aqua Pura. Volunteers have reported that it helps to brush their teeth with tap water (without drinking it). This introduces the volunteer slowly to some of the germs.
Clean out your water container before adding more water. You can add a couple of drops of bleach if you wish.
Wash your hands after using the bathroom, and before eating and cooking food.

Be sure to read:

Keep your rooms and bedding clean. We recommend bringing anything with a Permethrin solution like: Chem Tox - Perma Tox Insecticide 13.3% Solution. Dog collars also work.
Wash your dishes thoroughly.
Wash your sheets, pillowcases, towels, and washcloths on a regular basis, or have them washed.
Be careful where you eat. Your host family will tell you of clean places to eat.
Drink plenty of liquids, and follow generally accepted dietary codes. You might consider bringing yogurt packages to make yogurt which is great for balancing the bacteria in your system.
Before eating fruits and vegetables wash them in water with a few drops of bleach. Let them sit for 20 minutes. (5 drops a gallon is recommended.)
Do not flush toilet paper or feminine hygiene products. Most Guatemalan homes have small sewer pipes that clog up easily.
Empty your garbage often.