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Are you travelling this summer with your family?

Whether travelling as a couple, with children or with elderly parents make sure you are prepared for the destination you are travelling. A few precautions and extra care before travel can make your holiday better.

Here are few general travel tips

1. Be proactive – Think about health in advance of your trip. If you have a chronic health problem, get a check-up before you leave. And find out as much as you can in advance about destination-specific health risks.

2. Pack a travel health kit – Expect the unexpected, always travel with a travel health kit equipped with the most basic medications.

3. Wash your hands – Good hygiene is the first line of defence against any viral or bacterial ailment, be it the common cold or any other infection. Especially wash your hands before and after meal times.

4. Drink and eat sensibly – Traveller’s diarrhoea is the most common ailment that hamper many vacations. Make sure you eat and drink at hygienic places. Always have hot food when in doubt.

5. Make exercise a priority – You always have ample time to exercise on a vacation, it is your choice to make it a part of your agenda.

Travelling with elders

Are you a group of senior citizens travelling this vacation ? Here are a few health tips to keep in mind:

1. Book for accessibility – Make comfort a top priority. Choose to book direct flights, check for elevators, wheelchairs, and ramps before booking hotel accommodation too.

2. Plan small itineraries – Skip long hours of sight-seeing and plan small excursions physically possible.

3. Pack light – Depending on the weather of your destination pack as light as you can. Make sure you carry only small bag packs for day excursions too.

4. Choose comfortable shoes – One thing you absolutely need to pack is a pair of good, sturdy walking shoes—especially if you plan to do any sightseeing on foot.

5. Carry a few accessories – Here are a few things which will make your trip more comfortable and prepare you for any health conditions:

• travel-sized heat and cold packs.
• an inflatable neck pillow, and seat cushion for long car, train, or airplane rides.
• Extra pair of specs if needed.
• a knee sleeve or elastic bandage to support and cushion sore knees.

6. Stock your medicines – Make sure you carry all your medicines in sufficient quantities. Bring along a prescription, as well as your doctor’s phone number, in case you do run out. Keep the medicines with you instead of in your bags where they could get lost.

7. Keep moving – During long airplane and car trips, try to get up and walk around for a few minutes at least once an hour to keep your joints moving. Staying active will prevent soreness and will maintain blood flow.

Travelling with children

Are you travelling with children this summer? Here are a few health tips to follow:

• Beat the heat – There are three easy things you need to remember about keeping children safe when it’s hot: Apply sunscreen regularly, give them plenty of drinks, and offer healthy, hydrating snacks.
• Be prepared for insect bites – If you are spending time on your summer vacation hiking or camping, you’re likely to encounter them. Use an insect repellent before stepping outdoors and wear full sleeved clothes.
• Watch out around water – Whether you are near a beach or a hotel swimming pool your kids need constant supervision at all times.
• Clean hands – While you’re travelling, make sure your children wash their hands with soap before eating whenever you can. Hand sanitizer or a pack of antibacterial wipes will work if the water is not available.
• Carry light snacks – Carry some high-calorie dry snacks like nuts, energy bars or fruits for your kids to snack during travel times
• Keep a well – stocked first aid kit – Be prepared for minor problems by packing a portable kit that includes over-the-counter pain medicine, antiseptic cream, a cold pack, tweezers, and bandages. If your child has any allergies or asthma, carry the medications. Keep your pediatrician’s phone number handy at all times.
• Boiled water – Water is the first thing that causes stomach infections. Make sure you offer your children only boiled clean drinking water at all times.
• Vaccines – Does your child need any preventive vaccinations? Consult our Travel Clinic.

Whether it is advice on vaccination, country-specific precautions or advice on your health conditions, we highly recommend an appointment with experts at our Travel Clinic. The Travel clinic at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital offers comprehensive travel advice to make sure your trip is happy and healthy.