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Whether your summer plans take you far away to an exotic location or close to home, these pointers should keep you safe during your trip.
Safety
You should always follow basic safety precautions when you are away from home to get the most out of your vacation.
Avoid sun exposure between 10 am to 4 pm when the Sun's harmful UV rays are the most intense. If you plan on being out in the sun during this time, bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Sunscreen should be at least SPF 15 and higher for people with fairer skin. Apply sunscreen liberally at least 30-40 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapply after swimming or excessive sweating.
If you are out in the sun for prolonged periods of time, be sure to rest when you are tired or feel fatigued to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Avoid strenuous activity in hot, humid conditions. Drink plenty of liquids to replenish your body with fluids and salts (electrolytes) that are lost through sweating.
Try to avoid swimming in fresh water lakes or streams. Be wary of stagnant water. Swimming in salt water is usually safer.
Do not walk barefoot outdoors. Keep your feet protected, clean and dry to avoid infections.
Wash your hands often with soap and water; an instant hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol may be more convenient in places where clean water is not readily available.
If you plan on taking long road trips or plane rides and have a high chance of blood clots, you may want to speak with your doctor about starting anticoagulation therapy to prevent a serious health event such as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or stroke.
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If you get motion sickness easily, discuss with your pharmacist or doctor what you can take to avoid the discomfort. An over-the-counter agent such as meclizine may help.
Take enough of your prescription medications to last the entirety of your trip and bring a list of all the medications you are taking. Keep your medications in the original prescription bottle and store them in your carry on luggage so that you can easily access them when needed.
Bring an over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicine (loperamide) to take if you have mild diarrhea.
Make a plan of action for emergency care in case of injury or illness. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers and your insurance card with you at all times. Some emergency numbers that you should have handy are your doctor, pharmacy, and emergency family contact at home.
In areas with an abundance of insects, wear insect repellant with 30%-50% DEET to avoid diseases such as West Nile virus that is acquired through mosquito bites. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants are strongly recommended when outdoors in a rural area.
Many travelers develop diseases from the food and water they ingest. Only drink bottled or boiled water or carbonated drinks that are canned or bottled. If water is not safe to drink, you should boil the water vigorously for 1 minute. Allow the water to cool to room temperature and add a pinch of salt to improve taste. If there is not a way to boil the water, you can make the water safer to drink by using a chemical disinfectant that contains iodine (available at many sporting goods stores.)
Vaccinations
If you are planning to travel internationally, an important thing to think about would be receiving vaccina
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tions/shots. You should make an appointment with your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before you leave for your trip. This will allow time for your shots to take effect and provide you with the protection that you need.
The shots you need are dependent on where you are traveling to and what activities you chose to partake in. If you chose to stay in the city, a vaccination may not be needed versus staying in a more rural area.
It is important that you are up-to-date on routine immunizations, such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap), measles, and polio.
Your pharmacist or doctor can check if there is a disease of major concern where you are going. You may also check the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to view related health issues of certain destinations including outbreaks and recommended travel vaccinations. (www.cdc.gov/)
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