TRAVEL TIPS

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. 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.

RESEARCH AVAILABLE MEDICAL CARE.

Whether you plan to travel within your own state or to distant shores, you should be well-informed about the types and quality of health care available in your destination. Ask your physician or insurance company for provider recommendations. Also check the availability and quality of local pharmacies, walk-in clinics and hospitals.

OUTSMART THE GERMS.

Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The CDC recommends the following steps to protect yourself and others: • Postpone travel and stay home if you are sick or think you might be sick. • Check with state and local health departments for information on outbreaks of infectious disease at your destination. Find out if there are travel restrictions for that area such as staying home for 14 days when you arrive or after you return from your trip. • Wear a mask when you are in public, and maintain a distance of six feet from other people. • Also keep your distance during water-based activities and do not share swim gear that touches the face, such as goggles, scuba masks and snorkels. • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. • If you become sick or think you have been exposed to an infectious disease – isolate yourself and contact your physician.

The CDC regularly updates guidelines. For the most up-to-date info, visit www.cdc.gov/travel.

TIPS FOR A SAFE ROAD TRIP

Oh, the memories of summer vacations spent fighting with siblings in the backseat of the family’s wood-paneled wagon! Before taking your own family on the road, be sure to take these simple steps.

• Make sure your vehicle is road-ready by giving it a thorough check-up. • Pack for emergencies. Road trip safety essentials include a first aid kit, flashlight with extra batteries, a mobile phone charger, drinking water, extra snacks and food, booster cables, emergency flares or reflectors, and a basic toolkit. • Buckle up. Wearing seatbelts significantly reduces the risk of serious injuries and death in traffic accidents. Always wear your seatbelt, and make sure passengers wear theirs. • Child safety seats reduce the risk of crash-related deaths by 71 percent for infants, and they cut the risk by more than half for toddlers. Make sure children are properly buckled in a seat belt, booster seat or car seat that is appropriate for their age, height and weight.

Deborah Wolfe is a PR Specialist for Lake Regional Health System.

Express Care

WalK-in Clinic Open Daily • lakeregional.com/ExpressCare