Are you responsible for organizing the logistics of travel and getting ready for a safe trip? With proper preparation, you can have the stress-free vacation you’ve been dreaming of.
Read these four tips to learn about the easiest ways to make sure your family has a safe AND fun vacation:
- Beat the heat (and the sun)
If you will be experiencing a lot of sun exposure on your trip, it is important to be prepared. First, pack lots of fluids, especially water, to keep you and your loved ones hydrated. The heat can have exhaustive effects, so it’s important, in addition to the fluids, to rest often and try to stay in the shade, especially during the hottest times of the day from noon to 4 p.m.
When you are exposed to the sun, protect your skin to minimize the chance of sunburn. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 every time you go outside. Protect your eyes from the sun: Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.
- Master water safety
If you are vacationing somewhere with access to a swimming pool or a body of water, enroll your younger children in formal swimming lessons ahead of time to lower their risk of drowning.
If you’re vacationing at the beach, educate your family members about what to do in case they get caught in a riptide or rip current. If this happens, remain calm and don’t fight it. Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you break out of it. Then follow the waves, at an angle, back to land. It also is helpful to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), in case of an emergency.
- Plan ahead to vaccinate
It’s important to be up to date on all of your vaccinations as you prepare to travel, especially if you’re vacationing abroad. The CDC recommends that you see your health care professional at least one month before any international travel.
In addition to getting recommended travel vaccinations, it is important that you and your family are up to date on all routine vaccines, such as the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, before you travel.
- Keep the bugs at bay
Bugs (including mosquitoes, ticks, and some flies) can spread diseases (including Zika, dengue, and Lyme disease). Many of these diseases cannot be prevented or treated with a vaccine or medicine.
The CDC recommends using Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents that contain at least 20 percent DEET (diethyltoluamide) for protection against mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs. Cover exposed skin as much as possible by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and a hat.
These are just a few simple ways to prepare for the elements this summer and make planning your vacation a little less stressful.