A vacation’ts excitement and anticipation often leaves us more focused on what we’ll do once we arrive at our destination, and less focused on remembering the cell phone charger, sunscreen and whether the coffee pot was unplugged before dashing out the door. Unfortunately, this lack of common sense tends to linger when we’re away from familiar territory and routines. As campers, beach goers and adventure seekers everywhere pack their bags and set out for a much needed respite, it’s important to follow a few basic health and safety tips so that this year’s vacation memories will be ones you’ll want to remember.
- Cover Up! Protect your skin, scalp, lips and eyes, especially between the hours of 10am and 3pm by wearing sunscreen, lip balm, a hat and sunglasses. Reapply sunscreen every few hours if you’re swimming and don’tt forget about those easy-to-miss spots like the back of legs and ears. Treat a sunburn by taking acetaminophen, rubbing aloe Vera lotion on the affected area and staying out of the sun for a few days.
- Fuel Up! Try to stick to a regular meal schedule since it’s easy to get out of a routine when you’re away from home. Carry plenty of portable snacks and fluids during the day, especially if events keep you from eating on a regular schedule and you need to stave off hungry and cranky kids until the next meal.
- Stock Up! Be prepared for minor scrapes and insect bites by packing a small portable First Aid Kit with items like bandage strips, cotton balls, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, a pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, insect repellent, calamine lotion, and an antihistamine for allergic reactions.
- Buddy Up! Travel in groups of at least two and establish designated meeting areas and times to ensure that no one gets lost. Be sure everyone in family knows the name and location of where you are staying and has a list of cell phone numbers.
- Look Up! Be aware of your surroundings. When driving around or sightseeing, have your route planned out in advance to avoid looking like a lost tourist. Lock your car and don’tt leave tempting items visible in the car like cameras, iPods and shopping bags filled with vacation souvenirs. Check out unsafe areas at your destination to avoid before leaving home, and keep the gas tank in the car at least one quarter full.
- Heads Up! It’s easy to get distracted in water when you’re partying with friends, drinking by the pool or at the beach. Follow posted safety rules, especially when there are no lifeguards on duty and never let kids swim unattended. Keep an eye out for fast moving summer storms that often produce sudden thunder and lightning in the afternoon.
- Pack Up! Be pro-active about your health care. Vacations are for relaxing and creating new experiences, but unfortunately they can also be prime time for unexpected illnesses and accidents. Before leaving home, pack your insurance card, prescription medications and a list of any drug allergies. Better yet, consider creating a portable personal health record (PHR) through a service like Google Health to conveniently and safely store and share your health records and even access them via mobile devices such as your iPhone or Android. For international trips, check the Center for Disease Control’s website for disease outbreaks and recommended vaccinations. For information about symptoms, illnesses or to locate the closest medical facility while on vacation, download the free mobile app iTriage from your preferred mobile device for on-the-go access to healthcare information wherever you are.