No one wants to get sick while traveling. Check out these precautions, things to pack, and enjoy your trip.
First-Aid Kit
A small first-aid kit stocked with bandages, antiseptic wipes and other medical necessities is always a wise thing to have on hand. If you’re flying with a first-aid kit in your carry-on, remember to double-check it for any items that might not make it through airport security. Small tubes of antibiotic cream, for instance, should go into your quart-size plastic bag of liquids and gels, while sharp items such as lancets or large scissors could be confiscated. Small scissors (with blades shorter than four inches) are fine.
Vitamin and Prescription Drugs
If you take vitamins or prescription drugs, it’s a good idea to have a way to keep them organized. If you need a certain one daily, you might want to get a container to organize them. It’s a good idea to keep the prescription bottle with you. It’s also a good idea to have an extra copy of your prescription in your wallet.
Sunscreen
Sunburn not only causes pain and unsightly lobster skin but can also contribute to heat exhaustion. Look for travel size containers.
If you’re planning on snorkeling, remember to choose a reef-safe sunblock. Chemicals found in most sunscreen brands contribute to coral damage.
Nasal Mist
Low humidity in airplane cabins can dry out the mucus membranes in your nose, which are essential in preventing illness. Keeping these delicate tissues hydrated with a saline nasal spray during long flights could help you fend off germs from the guy coughing and sneezing behind you.
Antibacterial Hand Gel and Wipes
You’ve probably read about some study reporting how many germs are all over your airplane tray table, your remote, the seatback, and more. It’s true. Have some antibacterial wipes in your bag for these spots.
Insect Repellent
If you traveling to an area affected by mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects, remember your insect repellent.
Compression Socks
Travelers on long flights are at greater risk of deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, a potentially dangerous condition in which a blood clot forms within a vein, usually in the leg. If such a clot spreads to the lungs, it could have life-threatening consequences. Wearing compression socks helps keep blood circulating to and from the legs, and could help prevent DVT.