You’ve thought out every detail of your vacation and
you’re dreaming about lounging on a warm sunny beach. The last thing on your
mind when packing your bags is the possibility of getting sick while on
vacation. Sickness can happen to anyone when traveling and certain destinations
can have different risks.
Below are a few tips, links, and mobile apps to help
keep you and your family healthy while traveling.
Plan
Ahead
Depending on your travel destination and planned
activities, different travel vaccines and medicines may be recommended. These
include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, or yellow fever to name a few.
Before you hop on a plane, find out if your destination requires any travel
vaccines. You can find this information by clicking here
or asking your healthcare provider.
CDC has a really cool feature on their Traveler’s Health
webpage. Select where you are traveling to and the CDC will
give you vaccine and medicine recommendations specific to that location. You
can even click on what type of traveler you are (for example, traveling with
children, traveling on a cruise ship, etc.).
Be
Prepared
It’s a good idea to see a healthcare provider 4-6
weeks before your trip. Tell him or her where you are going and what activities
you have planned. This way they can make health recommendations based on your
destination. Also, make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines, including
your flu shot. If you need any travel vaccines or certain medicines, get them
before you go.
Pack
to Prevent
Along with your bathing suit and toothbrush, it is
good to pack:
·
Sunscreen
·
Long-sleeved shirts and long pants
·
Infant carrier mosquito net (if needed)
·
Bed net (if mosquitoes can get to where
you’re sleeping).
You can download the full list of what to pack here
or customize your own on CDC’s TravWell
mobile app.
While
on Vacation
·
Apply sunscreen first, and then apply
bug spray. Reapply both as directed.
·
Cover bare skin whenever possible.
·
Stay and sleep in screened-in or air
conditioned rooms. Use a bed net if you’re sleeping outside.
·
Download CDC’s Can I Eat This?
mobile app to help navigate what is safe to eat and drink when traveling.
When
You Get Home
If you get sick when you get home, see a healthcare
provider. Tell him or her, where you
traveled, what you did on your trip, how long you were gone, what you ate
and drank while you were there, whether you were bitten by bugs, and any other
possible exposure (sex, tattoos, piercings). It is also good to know, some infections can develop long after
you return from your trip. For example, malaria can develop up to one year after
exposure.
For more information visit http://www.clintonhealth.org/pdf%20files/Zika.pdf
or https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.
We hope you enjoy your trip and can use these tools
to help keep yourself and your family healthy!
