Healthy Travel

Healthy Advice for Travelers

Travel is one of the greatest joys. Seeing new places and meeting new people expands your mind. Be open to different cultures, food, people and enjoy.

Before you go...
Let your physician know of your trip. Your doctor can make recommendations for a safe and healthy trip. Ask about any necessary vaccinations. Make sure you have all, and the correct medications with you. Keep the copies of your prescriptions separate and secure. Your doctor can also tell you of any potentially dangerous interactions of your regular medications with medications for the trip.

What to pack...
You should pack and carry your own first aid kit. It should include basic medications like, Aspirin (pain reliever), antidiarrheals, antacids, band-aids and first aid cream. Include all of your prescribed mediactions, clear copies of the prescriptions and your doctors contact info as well as your emergency contact at home. Keep copies of the prescriptions, doctors information and emergency contact info separate in another secure area of your luggage. Your first aid kit with all medications should be in a convenient carry-on and with you at all times. Never pack needed medications in checked luggage.

On the Plane...
Avoid dehydration, drink plenty of water and go light on the alcohol. Enjoy new foods, but with common sense. Especially on long flights, you need to move around. Take a walk on the plane and chat with other travelers. Develop a plan of excersice, especially for your legs. Most inflight magazines have exersices you can do at your seat. On long flights, avoid being too sedentary.

On the ground...
Set your watch to the new time zone as soon as you take off. The flight will serve appropriate meals for the time. Get some rest and upon arrival, act appropriaetly for the local time zone. If you arrive in the morning, try and stay up until the late evening or night. This will help with acclimation and you will have a memorable trip.

See you on the plane...