Have a safe trip

Staying well is the No. 1 ingredient for enjoying travel. When you're healthy, new faces and places wear a special glow-birds sing, flowers bloom brightly and total strangers give you smiles.

Conversely, when you are feeling miserable, even the most radiant scene seems bathed in a bleak fog. It's no fun to be sick when you're away from home-or to be involved in a preventable accident. Nothing drains pleasure from a holiday like a nasty bout of flu, for instance, or a bad cut that becomes infected.

This is not to suggest that hidden dangers lie in wait anytime you're on the road. (After all, statistically, you're more likely to be ill or to have an accident at home.) But it seems to me-and maybe you'll agree-that problems are more difficult to deal with in unfamiliar territory. So it's all the more important to eliminate potential trouble.

Luckily, by taking a few sensible precautions you can cut the risk of a spoiled holiday. As my grandmother used to say (more often than we liked to hear it), "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The suggestions that follow, gathered from experts, offer important safeguards that may help keep your travels trouble-free.

FOOD

In any one day, 16,000 Americans become ill from something they've eaten. (Twenty-five will die.) On the road, use special care when you dine in restaurants or prepare food in your own galley. The primary cause of food poisoning is undercooked eggs, poultry and beef. If you eat out, refuse to accept eggs with a runny yolk, chicken or turkey that's still pink on the inside, or a hamburger that is not thoroughly cooked. Reject fish (or other seafood) that smells "fishy." Fresh fish has almost no odor.

In your own galley, be sure to sanitize utensils, the cutting board and anything else that comes in contact with raw meat, fish or poultry. Also, if you're barbecuing or otherwise handling raw meat, fish or poultry, never use the same fork or spatula after the food is cooked without washing first.

Eggs, too, should be handled with extra care. It does little good to wash the shell, since contamination with salmonella affects the entire egg. Best answer: cook all eggs until firm. Personally, I find it easier to buy egg substitutes-which are not only pasteurized but also fat free.

Days seem to gallop by when you're on holiday. More than once I've been shocked to find cheese covered with mold, or milk turned sour Now, I try to take a minute every couple of days to check the fridge and toss anything that isn't fresh.

WATER

Though most of us know it's essential to use bottled water when traveling in Mexico, we like to believe that in the United States our water is absolutely pure. Yet recent studies indicate that this is not always the case. For most of us, it's probably good enough. But if you have any health condition that makes you especially vulnerable, it might be wise to use bottled water.

In the backcountry, never drink water from streams or rivers-no matter how clear and sparkling. Many surface water sources harbor giardia parasites, which can cause diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue.

Equally important: use discretion about where you fill your water tank. Some poorly run campgrounds position the potable water hose too near the sanitary dump. We've observed more than one RVer using the hose beside the sewer drain to fill his water tank, as well as the reverse-using the potable water hose to rinse out his sewer hose. We make it a rule always to substitute our own hose when filling our water tank.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Consider getting a flu shot if you plan to travel during the high-risk seasonwinter, late fall or early spring. Also, make sure your tetanus shots are updated. Older RVers should ask their physicians about being immunized against bacterial pneumonia.

If you're RVing to Mexico, you may want to take special precautions, which could include inoculations against hepatitis A and medications to combat malaria and typhoid fever. Call the Centers for Disease Control International Travelers Hotline; (404) 332-4559, for up-to-date information and recommendations.

VIRUSES AND You

One important way to avoid illness: veto overly ambitious travel plans-unrealistic goals for sightseeing or too many hours of driving each day. When we make excessive demands on our bodies, all those mean little viruses that are out there suddenly catch up with us.

PERSONAL HEALTH KIT

In addition to the standard supplies in a good first-aid kit you'll want to add items that meet the special requirements of each family member Try to anticipate possible problems. For example, I sometimes develop sinus infections, which can lay me low. With my doctor's approval, I always carry along an effective antibiotic in case it's needed.

Include plenty of sunscreen and insect repellent in your health kit. Also, add vitamins if you normally take them. You should have a medication for diarrhea, a laxative and antacid tablets. Pack a pain killer like aspirin or ibuprofen. For cuts and burns, be sure to have an antiseptic as well as a cortisone ointment. A fever thermometer is a must. If you're traveling with a child, talk with your pediatrician about additional items that might be needed.

ON THE HIGHWAY

As often as possible, try to break up a long day of driving with a short recess every hour or two. Take a quick stroll. Or if that's not possible, do a little stretching inside your RV Stop for a cold drink or a cup of coffee. As any truck driver will tell you, fatigue is often a major factor in highway accidents. We think less clearly when we're tired, and our reactions aren't as fast-a good reason to avoid night driving, unless absolutely essential.

Among RVers, males seem to accept the brunt of driving; but the "fair sex" is equally capable, given enough practice. It's good insurance (in case one person is ill) for both to be equally comfortable behind the wheel. Trading off every hour or two also helps cut fatigue.

Do as Canadians do and turn on your headlights whenever you find yourself on a two-lane road. Lights alert oncoming drivers and help prevent the kind of accidents that occur when the driver in the opposite lane who fails to see you coming attempts to pass.

SAFE SLEEP

Newer RVs come equipped with carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to warn when this deadly, odorless, colorless gas is present. Either your own or a neighbor's generator could trigger a warning alert. If you have a CO detector, keep fresh batteries installed. For an older rig, consider buying a CO detector.

GETTING MEDICAL HELP

When you're going to be away from home for a prolonged period, a dental check-up and a physical exam before you leave could help avoid unforeseen problems.

But what if (despite all preventive measures) someone in your family does become ill? Best bet is one of the walk-in clinics. Popularly called "Doc in the Box," they can handle almost any emergency and are easy to find in most towns.

ONE LAST WORD

When you've done all you can to ensure a safe trip, take off, worry free, and enjoy every minute.

Copyright T L Enterprises, Inc. Jun 1997
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved