Many illnesses have been making top headlines in the news the last few years, with H1N1 being the current topic of discussion. With so many people are traveling internationally for business, or vacations it is important to know how to protect yourself and others from illness. Whether you are traveling alone or with your family, there are several things you can do to be proactive about remaining healthy and safe during your trip and beyond.

#1 Hand Washing

Seems silly, something so easy and common sense, right? Many people do not wash their hands at all after using the bathroom. Does it matter? Yes it does matter because throughout the day you are picking up germs on your hands from people, surfaces, foods, even animals. If you don’t wash your hands, you infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. You spread these same germs by touching other people and surfaces like doorknobs and light switches. If you do wash your hands, did you know that most people do not wash their hands correctly? Most germs are missed on the thumbs, in between fingers, and fingertips; so just rinsing with water or rubbing soap between your palms is ineffective in removing germs. The correct way to wash your hands is to rinse first then add some soap, regular soap is just as efficient as anti-bacterial soap. Once lathered, vigorously rub your hands together, intertwining your fingers and thumbs to get between fingers, make sure to work over your finger tips, then rinse thoroughly.

#2 Carry Alcohol Wipes

My husband is a pilot. Having traveled thousands and thousands of miles by air, I know most airlines do not clean their planes well. How could they with 20-60 minute turns between stops, the ground crew only has time to vacuum and re-stock the pockets with safety literature. The seats, hand rests, tray tables, and bathroom are potentially full of bacteria. So what are your options to avoid catching an illness? You could steer clear of taking a flight or you could do what many frequent flyers do and carry alcohol wipes. When you board the flight, stow your bags and then wipe down your seat head rest, arm rests, and tray table. When you use the bathroom, take a wipe with you and after thoroughly washing your hands, wipe off the handle prior to opening the door. You just protected yourself from millions of germs.

#3 Drink Plenty of Water

You can get dehydrated very easily when flying and traveling. The human thirst reflex is relatively weak. By the time you feel thirsty, you are probably already dehydrated. Being well hydrated can keep you healthy and help your body fight off illness. Good hydration helps nourish our cells and helps cells release toxins. Handy tip-check your hydration by pinching the back of your hand, it should spring back to its shape instantly, if not, drink more! Remember to drink only bottled or boiled water or carbonated drinks from sources you trust when traveling outside the United States. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks and ice cubes unless they come from a filtered water source.

#4 Check The CDC For Recommended Vaccinations

If you are traveling to countries outside the US, check on the CDC website for recommended vaccines and get them at least 6 weeks prior to your trip. Remember some vaccines are given in a series, so you may need to start receiving them months in advance.

#5 Pack Your Prescriptions, Sun Screen, First Aid, Etc.

If you take medications regularly, make sure you have enough to last you for the entire time you will be gone. If you have 12 pills left and are going for 10 days, get the prescription refilled before you leave. You don’t want to be without medication on or after your trip. Always put your medication in your carry-on bag. This way if your luggage gets lost or delayed your health will not be at risk. Sunscreen is a given, use it from day one. If you refuse to wear it your first day because you want to get a tan and get burned, how much will you enjoy the other 6 days of vacation? Don’t forget non-prescription medications like ibuprofen, aspirin, or cold medicines and first aid supplies like band-aids and Neosporin cream. **Don’t forget the insect repellent, especially in tropical locations. Can you say, “Malaria”?

#6 Don’t Drive

If you aren’t familiar with an area, your chances of getting into a car accident go up exponentially. Add different driving rules, e.g. driving on the left, and you put yourself in greater risk. Many countries outside the US offer subway (metro), buses, rail, and tours, so you can enjoy the sights and leave the driving to them. If you must drive, take a GPS, wear seat belts, obey traffic laws, and make sure children are restrained in car seats. We want you to have a memorable vacation in a good way!

#7 Get Travel Insurance

“I’m healthy and I won’t be canceling this trip. I don’t want to pay the extra $129.00 for travel insurance.” Mr. Brown said. Three days into his vacation and a ruptured appendix later he was flown out of his hunting lodge by helicopter to the tune of $150,000, which he is still arguing with his health insurance company about.

Travel insurance is a win-win, if you don’t use it, then you had a happy and healthy vacation. If you did use it, you just saved thousands of dollars in medical bills and are going to be reimbursed for your canceled vacation.