Travel Archives

Enjoy a Happy and Healthy Summer Vacation

Summer has almost officially started and so have the thoughts of summer vacation. It conjures up visions of relaxation, sports, and sunny days spent on a sandy beach or a mountain trail.

For individuals and families with allergies and asthma though, it means extra thought and preparation before letting the “good times roll”

As we head full tilt into summer here are some common sense but commonly missed suggestions for a healthy vacation.

Medications – Make a detailed list of any medications showing prescription refill numbers, prescribing doctor, phone number, and dosage. Make sure you pack your medications in a carry-on bag just in case the airline happens to misplace your checked bags. One would think that could not happen with what they charge for checking a bag these days but it does.

Also, make sure to pack an extra Epipen in case someone has an allergic reaction to an insect sting or something they ate. Another good thing to pack is topical hydrocortisone cream.

Essential Gear – If someone has asthma and is using a peak flow meter be sure to bring it and their chart to record results. I don’t need to tell you not to forget the nebulizer but if you are traveling overseas don’t forget the electrical converter.

We have heard from many customers over the years they could not use their nebulizer because of power problems. For people who are camping, you can either use a power converter that hooks into your car or buy a portable one that runs on batteries.

To protect yourself from dust mites it may be wise to pack your own allergy-proof pillow and mattress covers. Many of our customers use the king-size fitted mattress covers and king-size pillow encasing the when I travel. They are easy to use and the king-size covers fit any bed.

Insurance – Don’t forget to check your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in the area that you’re traveling. Way too many people get a big surprise if they run into a problem and need to go to a clinic or emergency room.

Sensible Behavior – During the hot summer months, people with allergies and asthma should drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Try to avoid exposure to cigarette smoke whenever possible. Make sure you request a hotel room that is non-smoking and mold-free.

If you have food allergies call ahead and order a special meal on the airplane or better yet pack your own snacks. When eating out make sure you let your server know you have allergies.

Just because you have allergies does not mean you cannot have a great summer vacation. You just need to do a bit more planning.

Have a great Summer!

Mike

Allergies and Flying

I’ve written before about allergies and travel. But what about allergies and flying? This was a great topic suggested by one of the blog readers.

“Peanut fares” and “flying for peanuts” turned Southwest Airlines from a regional carrier to a major national airline. Even though their peanuts are iconic, they offer peanut-free flights.

If you have a nut allergy, it is imperative that you let the airline know when you book the flight. This way, they can accommodate your need to be nut free and the other passengers’ desire for a snack. I know nut allergy can be life-threatening, but I will admit, when Southwest announces that a flight will be nut-free I inwardly groan. Pretzels are usually the substitute snack of choice and I despise pretzels. But I digress.

Also, book your flight for early in the day as possible. Because airlines turn around flights quickly on the ground, the plane isn’t really cleaned between flights as much as “tidied up”. This means that peanut residue may linger from earlier flights. The first flight in the morning will be the cleanest. Even if you are on the first flight, be sure to have your Epi-Pen handy.

If you are concerned about the spread of viruses and bacteria due to recirculated air, the only mask that is going to protect you is an N95-type mask.

These are designed and manufactured to prevent the inhalation of particles as small as 0.1 microns. This will protect against viruses and bacteria. If you remember from the recent swine flu, bird flu, and SARS scares, these were the types of masks you saw people wearing in public.

As far as dust mites and pollens go, the bad news is that the seats and carpets of airplanes aren’t frequently cleaned to remove allergens. This means that everyone that walks on the plane is bringing a small amount of pollen from the location they are leaving.

The good news is that dust mites aren’t found in large numbers on our clothing. This means that you shouldn’t have high dust mite populations on your seat. That is a good thing because it is hard to get liquid through security in your carry-on.

You could put 3 or 4 ounces of ADMS Anti Allergen Spray in a small bottle and spray it around your seat, but do you really want to waste that precious space in your one allowed quart bag of 4-ounce liquids? Not me! I’ll save that room for toothpaste and deodorant every time!

If you are having an allergy attack when you are flying, you need to pay close attention to your ears. Sometimes allergy can lead to the Eustachian tubes being swollen. It is important that this passage be clear when you experience changes in altitude.

It might be necessary to take a decongestant before your flight. If so, remember to allow plenty of time for it to enter your bloodstream. Speaking of medications, if you are like me and suffer from an occasional bout of motion sickness when flying, your allergies are in luck. The active ingredient in Dramamine is very similar to the antihistamine found in Benadryl.

Don’t let your allergies keep you grounded…flying is not a problem if you are prepared!

Til Next Time

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

Best Allergy Control Products for Travel

I’ve written about traveling with allergies many times, but with so many people traveling for the holiday season, I think it bears covering again. So here is our list of the best allergy control products for travel.

If you have environmental allergies and will be staying in a hotel or someone’s home then there are really two products you must take with you. Not only are they they best allergy control products for travel, but they will work for multiple environmental allergies.

The first is made by Alkaline Labs. It is the ADMS Anti-Allergen Spray. If you don’t want to travel with the whole quart bottle, pour some into a smaller spray bottle and put it in your suitcase. When you arrive, spray the bed, carpets, draperies, etc with this spray. When I stay in a hotel, I even spray the forced air system with this product.

It will work to neutralize the allergy-causing proteins from dust mites, pollens, cats, dogs, molds, cockroaches and all the other common environmental allergens. All it takes is a light mist to neutralize those allergens on contact. Because it works on so many allergens, I think it is the best allergy control product on the market if you are limited in what you can pack.

The second item you should pack is an inexpensive zippered pillow cover. Take this with you and put on the pillow that you will use to place your head upon. Unless you know you are staying at a hotel or house with a king size bed, take a queen size pillow cover with you. Most hotels and homes use either queen or standard size pillows.

If you take a standard cover and are faced with queen pillows, you are in trouble. If you take a queen pillow cover and end up with standard size pillows, it will still work. Since you aren’t going to be using this cover for the rest of your life, I recommend buying one of the less expensive fabrics, like the Bed Bug zippered cover. That way if you forget to take it off your pillow before you leave, you won’t be heartbroken about the expense.

Traveling can be stressful, the holiday times can be stressful if you let them. Don’t stress over your allergies, just be prepared.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

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