Summer is peak travel season – and Independence Day brings one of the busiest weeks on the calendar. Whether you’re heading to the beach or to the mountains, overseas or across the state, here are tips to enjoy smooth journeys for the summer and beyond.

Make Health a Top Concern

It’s easy to overlook your health when making plans for fun in the sun – but planning for your health is just as important as planning your stay. Be sure to:

• Check with your health plan about out-of-area coverage. Know what to do if you need urgent or emergency care while you're away.

• Talk with your healthcare provider before you go if you have a chronic medical condition such as high blood pressure.

• Make sure you have enough of your prescription medications to last for your whole trip. If possible, include them with your carry-on bag instead of checking them with your luggage. Keep medicines in their original, labeled bottles.

• Make sure you are properly immunized, including tetanus, RSV, COVID-19 and flu shots. If you travel abroad, you may need additional vaccines. Check with your healthcare provider and see the travelers' guide provided by the CDC for additional recommendations.

• Prepare a travel health kit with items you may need. The CDC recommends including your over-the-counter medicines as well as your prescription medications. You may also want to pack a mask, insect repellent, sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), aloe, alcohol-based hand sanitizer and water disinfection tablets. Bring your health insurance card.

Get Enough Sleep and Eat Wisely

You might be thinking that you don’t want to “waste” time on sleep when you’re on vacation. But getting enough rest may be the best way to truly enjoy your time away.

Too little sleep leads to poor concentration and bad judgment. Without enough sleep, you may find yourself becoming more easily confused or ready to lash out over common travel situations and changing circumstances such as a delayed flight or a traffic jam.

Schedule enough sleep before and during travel, and make sure you are well rested before driving.

Vacations also offer a great opportunity to indulge in new and creative cuisine. It’s important, though, not to abandon healthy eating habits – and to be wise about local conditions:

• Make a plan for healthy choices and set limits.

• Eat with care if traveling to a country with an increased risk of traveler's diarrhea. Avoid risky foods such as raw or undercooked meat and seafood, unpeeled or raw fruits and vegetables and drinks with ice.

• When ordering, consider safer food choices such as thoroughly cooked meat and eggs, carefully washed fruits and vegetables and pasteurized milk to avoid foodborne illnesses.

Choose Safety

Familiarize yourself with the area before traveling there. Contact your travel agent to get local health information. This should include food and beverage precautions, information about insects and other pests and the availability of emergency medical care.

Also keep in mind:

• Carry a mobile phone and keep it fully charged when you can.

• Make sure your car has had a recent tune-up if you are traveling by car. Bring an emergency kit and healthy snacks.

• Wash your hands and take other precautions to prevent getting and spreading diseases while traveling.

• Protect yourself and your loved ones from sun and heat illnesses. Wear sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids; wear a hat and sunglasses; and wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day, rest often and try to stay in the shade when outdoors.

• Follow water safety precautions.

• Use insect repellent and take additional steps to avoid bug bites.

Sources:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Institutes of Health, News in Health
The StayWell Company, LLC