Health
HOT TIPS FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY SUMMER TRAVEL BY DEBORAH WOLFE
Does summer have you dreaming of lounging on the beach, hiking in the mountains or shopping in the city? “Whenever normal travel resumes, we’ll likely be more aware of health and safety concerns than we were on our past vacations,” said Christine Livek, M.D., a family medicine physician at Lake Regional Clinic – Lake Ozark. “Of course, we want to be smart about COVID19, but there’s more to vacation safety than avoiding germs.” Dr. Livek gives these tips for keeping you and your family safe and well while traveling.
SAFETY STARTS AT HOME. Taking steps to ensure you are in good health before you travel can help you avoid a frantic search for medical care in an unfamiliar location. Make an appointment with your physician to check your overall health and prescription medication needs. Give your doctor the details of how and where you are traveling. Discuss how long you will be gone, planned activities, and any recent surgeries, health procedures, chronic illnesses, and the strength of your immune system. Also, determine the vaccinations you need based on where you are traveling. 48
LAKE LIFESTYLES // JULY/AUGUST 2020
REMEMBER YOUR MEDS. Your prescription medications should be at the top of your packing list, along with any over-the-counter medications you take. It is extremely important to take medications as prescribed by your physician. Missing even a day or two can harm your health. Prescription medications can be difficult to replace while traveling, so pack enough medication for the duration of your trip plus a few days, just in case.
PACK YOUR PAPERWORK. In our digital age, paper copies of prescriptions seem to be a thing of the past, but it is still wise to keep hard copies of prescriptions and doctor’s orders with you when you travel. The information should specify instructions pertaining to your health condition along with the reason you need prescribed treatments and medications, the dosage you are taking, and the brand name and generic name of the drug. Having this information will make replacing your medication easier and assist any care providers treating you while you are away from home.
