Travel During Times Of Health Alerts

Travel During Times Of Health Warnings

We live in a hectic world. People are constantly coming and going, stressing out about work, life, and a myriad of other things. Relief is a central component of staying sane and remaining in a healthy mental and physical state. It is important that we not only ‘come and go’ about our daily lives, but that we make sure to get out and about every so often simply as a stress reliever. Vacations are vital, and perhaps you have one planned. However, maybe the time surrounding your vacation is shrouded in hysteria concerning a health scare. Be it some new strain of the flu, ebola, the Corona Virus, or something else, you can plan to take your vacation, but you can’t anticipate the arrival of an illness on the scene. What you can do, however, is take the necessary precautions in remaining sanitary and safe so that you can not only remain healthy but still manage to take your long-deserved vacation.

Illnesses come and go just about as frequently as we do. Sometimes they are highly contagious, and the means of taking a vacation put us in more susceptible circumstances than if we had just stayed home. Remaining isolated in your home is by far the best way to remain free from exposure to a virus, but it’s not always so appealing, is it? More often than not, people take vacations with the intention to travel somewhere, to not just get away from work, but from their daily lives in general. Usually, this involves either taking a plane or driving a vehicle. Both of these options present a risk of coming into contact with a sick person, but if you remain diligent in good health practices, you can considerably lessen the risk of getting ill yourself.

Planes use recycled air, and this is the most dangerous part of them. An ill person could be on the complete opposite side of the plane from you, and yet you will be breathing the same air. Wearing a mask might be a worthwhile idea in this scenario, but some other things you can do could be more important. First, what are some things that naturally keep a person healthy? Staying hydrated and full of nutrients. On a plane, an attendant will likely offer you a beverage. Fortunately, the options they offer come from sealed bottles. You can watch them crack it open and pour it right in front of you and know that the contents are not contaminated. You will want to keep away from sugary sodas and alcohol, not because they will make you sick, but because they dehydrate you, and you need all the hydration you can get. Water is the best option, but if orange juice is available, it will also provide some vitamin C.

Vitamin C is important for preventing illness, and orange juice isn’t the only source. Taking supplements can be a more direct method, and are worth taking before getting ill, not just upon experiencing symptoms. With all of these fluids you will be drinking, you will eventually have to use the bathroom. Whether this is on a plane or at a rest stop on a cross country road trip, there are some practices to keep in mind. The handles of toilets, sinks, and doors will be the riskiest places to touch. If a toilet or sink has an automatic trigger, use it, but if they don’t, try grabbing a paper towel or toilet paper and touching it with that, to keep your hands from direct exposure. When washing your hands, wash them as well as you can with soap and water. If you have hand-sanitizer, use that too, not just after using the bathroom.

One of the most important things you can do is keep out of contact with potentially sick individuals. Even if a person doesn’t show symptoms, an illness might still be dormant. You can’t be sure. Breathing the same air is almost unavoidable, but you can purposely refrain from touching others. You might meet new people on your travels. Refrain from shaking hands, and explain why, so as not to offend anyone. In the same way, you should strive to avoid touching your face. Your hands will contact germs no matter how much you wash them, and touching your face is an easy way to let them into your body.

Finally, the best tip is to just enjoy your vacation. Stress breaks down the immune system. Sometimes you can’t avoid illness, no matter how hard you try. Vacations are good for relieving stress, so while you should still make an attempt to stay healthy, don’t let it stress you out so much that you can’t enjoy yourself. After all, alleviating stress is what vacations are for.