School is out, and lots of families are heading out of town. The last thing people want to contend with once they have time off from work and school is illness or an injury. But being in crowded airports, out at night when the bugs show up, or on the road have a few significant health risks. So here are Strategies to Keep Kids Healthy and safe on Summer Trips.
Strategies to Keep Kids Healthy and safe on Summer Trips
Be mindful around water. “For local travel the No. 1 risk really is injuries – and that’s actually true for all our international travelers as well,” says Ari Gilmore, a physician in family medicine at Pacific Medical Center Beacon Hill. Water is a big risk, and parents and kids really need to be aware about ensuring kids always wear a life vest, as well as being cautious around cold, fast currents. In a few spots, kids can get swept away even if they’re just up to their knees in water.
Beware of skeeters and ticks. It’s a good idea to ward off mosquitoes with a little bug spray, and long sleeves and pants whenever possible. Mosquitoes “are always a risk,” says Gilmore, who emphasized that scratching the bites and getting an infection can be a problem, too. He recommended having Benadryl or hydrocortisone lotion on hand in order to deal with any itchy bites, if the mosquitoes do get you or your child.
(Note: Zika isn’t currently considered a risk for children. You can check the CDC’s website for the latest information about the virus.)
Use sunscreen. Apply and reapply a good UVB- and UVA-blocking sunblock frequently; with littler kids (age 6 and younger), make an effort to minimize sun exposure altogether during peak sun hours – usually 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The risks of too much sun include bad sunburns, sunstroke and possible future skin cancers. Rash guards (swim shirts), hats and 100 % UV-blocking sunglasses offer additional defense against intense sun and are also recommended for the entire summer by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Seek shade when you can with kids, too.
Get them vaccinated. “One of the nice things about the standard U.S. vaccine schedule is that children are usually pretty well prepared for most places,” says Gilmore, noting that hepatitis A and pertussis are fairly prevalent in some other countries. Children vaccinated according to the standard U.S. pediatric schedule will be properly protected from all of these potentially serious illnesses, said Gilmore.
Keep hands clean. Not washing your hands is among the top dangers in the airport – an area full of other travelers in which there’s an extremely high chance of picking up a contagious illness. At restaurants, Gilmore recommends using the bathroom early on to make sure there’s an abundance of warm water and soap accessible in the restroom. In the event you can’t find enough soap and warm running water to wash your hands well, the chances are good that the kitchen staff can’t, either.
Buckle up. If you’re in another country, it is possible you’ll be in a vehicle with substandard safety belt protection. Do your very best to ensure your children have a safety belt or safety setup similar to those found here in the United States. Safety first. If you have any other suggestions that we may have missed to keep you and your family healthy while on vacation, we would love to hear from you. To contact us, simply click here with your healthy suggestions.