If you have ever done it before, you will know that travelling as a large family with lots of different age ranges can be a tricky and challenging task! Not only do you have to worry about making sure everybody behaves and is sufficiently entertained, but you also want to make sure that everybody stays as healthy as possible. Whether you are doing a spot of brief travel in order to get to a final vacation destination, or the vacation itself is one that consists of a lot of exploring from one place to the next, it’s absolutely key that all members of the party stay at 100%. To help you out with healthy travel, here are some top tips for ensuring your family doesn’t suffer on the road!
Bottled Water
Staying hydrated is one of the absolute most important elements of staying healthy when you are travelling. Not taking on enough fluids can lead to ailments like headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and more, and all of this can be prevented by simply making sure that everyone is equipped with their own store of bottled water for the journey. Regular sips are all you need to stay healthy and hydrated. Try to follow the guidance from the British Dieticians Association for daily water intake.
Good Hygiene
Healthy travel is very often linked to good hygiene. Being on the road is no excuse not to make the effort to wash your hands, use lotions, and use antiseptic wipes. Picking up germs when travelling is a sure-fire way to get sick and then pass it on to everyone else, so hold up your end of the bargain, and if everyone does the same, you can remain a germ-free group!
Sunscreen
If you are travelling through a hot and humid country, then it is essential for you to apply sunscreen regularly, and even more critical for you to make sure the young members of your party do the same. Sunburn and even worse, sunstroke, are no joke, and in serious cases, you will need to seek medical attention for the pain and side effects. This can be prevented with simple regular application of a high SPF lotion. It can actually be helpful to set an alarm on your phone to remind you to reapply!
Vaccines
Make sure that you abide by the World Health Organisation rules when it comes to all of the different vaccinations that various countries require. Please don’t assume that things are the same as they were ten years ago when you might have visited somewhere; there are always updates to the rules and regulations, and these vaccines are necessary for your protection against some nasty diseases.
First Aid
If you are really committed to keeping your family healthy when travelling, then it might be worthwhile to brush up on all of the most common first aid skills that we like to think we know. Alongside that, make sure that you put together a good quality kit that contains all of the necessary items to heal and fix minor ailments. We’re talking plasters, bandages, treatments for travel sickness, pain killers, insect creams, and allergy medicines, etc.
Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, there is always the chance that something serious could happen when travelling, and if you need to seek medical assistance, you are absolutely going to need to have the appropriate travel insurance. Depending on which country you are travelling in, having the right coverage can literally be the difference between getting treatment and being refused. When the health of your family is at stake, it doesn’t make sense to try to skimp on the insurance side of things. You won’t regret it!
@goriami says
Such good tips, we always have travel insurance – I’ve yet to need to claim on it thankfully but it gives me peace of mind when we’re travelling!
chloe says
perfect tips indeed, travel insurance most of all is so important!!