RNS: When kids get sick while on vacation, March 2008
TIME: 2:05
URL: www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2008/hmvacation.htm
U-M Health Minute: Today’s top health issues and medical research
Health tips to ease family travel
U-M doctor explains how to handle potential problems while vacationing
Suggested lead: Will you be prepared if your child gets sick while you’re on vacation? According to U-M experts, some of the most important travel items to pack for kids aren’t books and video games, but a health kit and your pediatrician’s phone number. Here’s Andi McDonnell with more.
While spring break trips can be fun for families, they can also be stressful—especially when it comes to dealing with unexpected health issues.
But Dr. Stephen Park (M.D.) at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, says that parents can alleviate this stress by preparing for health situations before they take off on their next family getaway.
He explains...
“One of the first things I think we can do as parents, and we advise parents to do, is to take along essentials. You may develop actually a travel health kit that not only you can use with travel but to have around the home as well for more local travel. I often recommend that parents take not only medications that their children are taking regularly, which of course we don’t want them to forget, but also to take some things that may be useful if there’s an acute medical condition or an exacerbation of a chronic issue.”
The kit also should include preparatory medicines for sudden ailments, such as congestion or a rash, a fever reducer, an antihistamine, bandages and a topical antibiotic ointment. And don’t forget the sunscreen and aloe vera if you’re traveling to a sunny destination, and insect repellent if you’re planning to spend a lot of time outdoors.
Park also encourages parents to do some research before they travel to learn the location of the closest urgent care center, night-time care center and emergency room. And be sure to bring the phone number of your regular physician in case you need any medical questions answered while you’re traveling.
Most importantly, Park says to be patient with kids as they travel, and adjust to their new surroundings...
“Traveling with children can be some of the most fun a family can have in growing as a family and spending that time together and seeing the world around us. I think if we, as parents and physicians that are helping parents, help families to be prepared with a first aid kit, with traveling health needs addressed in advance and being able to know a plan in case you did need to seek healthcare services while you’re away, that can take the pressure off of that part of the equation and allow a family to just have a great time.”
Andi McDonnell, U-M Health System News. |
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