Preparing for Illness While Traveling

Traveling allows you to discover new foods, cultures, and places. Whether you travel a lot for business, are sightseeing in retirement, or simply like the odd getaway, it’s important to be prepared before you hit the road. That requires more than simply packing a suitcase. This guide explains how to prepare and deal with the possibility of illness while traveling.

Always be prepared for possible illness

When you’re packing your bags for a trip, make sure to bring the medications you’ll need in case you get ill. Smarter Travel recommends packing some basic over-the-counter items like antidiarrheals, antacids, and antihistamines. If you’re flying, make sure to keep these items in your carry-on bag, not your checked bag, so you always have it.

There are also items you can pack in your carry-on bag to help reduce the risk of illness in the first place. Have a big bottle of water to avoid getting dehydrated, for example, and pack some probiotics to help maintain good gut health. This can be especially helpful when you’re going abroad and trying new foods.

Finally, make sure you have the paperwork you need when traveling. For example, you should have proof of health insurance, your COVID vaccine card, and other essentials by your side. Instead of bringing the documents, use a free PDF editor to compile the documents digitally so you can access them on your phone, even without WiFi.

Follow best practices to avoid getting ill

Of course, ideally, you won’t get sick while you’re traveling at all. There are some steps you can take to minimize the risk. Instead of booking a hotel, for example, book a holiday rental via a platform like Airbnb. The benefit is that you won’t have to share elevators and dining areas with lots of hotel guests this way. You can even have your own entrance door.

Other best practices for reducing the likelihood of illness while traveling include eating well and staying hydrated. Also, try to stay active. If you can’t book accommodation with fitness facilities, this guide provides a hotel room workout you can do in a small space without any equipment.

Finally, make sure to wash your hands regularly and correctly. Be especially vigilant about washing your hands after you’ve been in a public space around a lot of other people. High-touch areas like public transportation are especially dangerous. If you can’t wash your hands, you can use an antibacterial hand sanitizer instead.

Know where to get help if you do get sick

It isn’t fun to think about, but it’s important to realize that you can still get sick while traveling, even if you take the above precautions. Knowing what to do if this happens is good common sense. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends making a plan for what to do if you get sick on the road before you even leave.

For example, you should enroll with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, STEP, which provides travel advisories for various destinations. This could include COVID-19 warnings, for example. It’s also important to know where you’ll get care if you do get ill. There are online resources that can help you locate medical care abroad.

Nobody wants to get sick while they’re traveling, whether it’s for business or pleasure. However, when it comes to this topic, it’s best to take a “better safe than sorry” approach. This is especially true for older people—like those traveling in retirement—who may experience more severe symptoms from basic illnesses. Trust this guide to help.

You can check out more articles from Kurt Brown on his website: Travel Tip Tank.