Health and Safety Tips for Fall Travel

As the summer temperatures begin to drop and the evenings require a sweater it's the perfect time to take a trip to the country to see the leaves changing color, or head to the beach for some uncrowded wave time. It's so easy to spontaneously jump in the car and go! No forethought, no planning! What fun!

But.... we must take just a few minutes to make sure that we are prepared for anything that may interrupt our "escape".

Traveling safe is so important whether you are alone or traveling with friends and/or family. Take just a few minutes to check your tires, check oil levels, even check windshield wipers. Take another few minutes to pack a travel kit with items needed in case of a breakdown, i.e. cell phone, cell phone car charger, drinking water, small fire extinguisher, maybe some packaged snacks and sanitary wipes just to name a few things. As a frequent traveler this writer can honestly say there is nothing worse than being stranded without water, wipes, and crackers. (Bathroom facilities are a whole other issue).

Ok, we've got the emergency stuff. Spontaneous is good, but a general idea of your direction helps with deciding necessary clothing. It's also good to let someone that is not traveling with you know that you will be gone, and for how long. That way if you don't show back up at the expected time, they can send out a posse to find you. (Cell phones are not always reliable.)

With safety covered, health issues also need to be addressed. In the age of the "swine flu" scare it might not be out of line to carry a few of those face mask things in case you are in a crowd. In the event you are flying and not driving it's almost a must-have to carry a mask as the air recirculates on planes spreading all the nasty germs around and around, and you know they are just looking for you to land on!

Back to car travel. If you are heading south of the border - Mexico way - you might ask your physician for a supply of antibiotics in the event you "drink the water". ("Don't drink the water" is a cute and catchy phrase but believe me, this traveler found out why it originated).

Antibiotics and stomach medicine, even over-the-counter anti-diarrheal stuff is worth the packing room in your suitcase. Something for headaches, again remember bottled water, and you need to throw in a few band-aids just in case.

This all sounds like a lot of prep work, but you will be glad you are prepared in the event anything happens. Murphy's Law - if it's going to happen, it will, (that's not exactly right, but you get the gist).

Camera, batteries, flashlight, walking shoes, clothing and you are ready to go! In this era of digital cameras one doesn't need to lug the rolls of film around and it's easy to download pictures to your laptop. Oh, taking a laptop along is a good way to keep in touch with those not on 'your adventure'. You can share the experience as you go with pictures!

Do you have a good spare tire? Even one of those little ones? And make sure you have a jack and tire iron too. If there is room you might throw in a pillow and blanket. Just in case. (The Murphy Law thing again).

Travel safely, but have fun. Be aware of your surroundings. Always stop at well-lit places for bathroom breaks and it's best if there are a few other people around.

Sample local cuisine and visit tourist sites, take breaks as you drive and enjoy the scenery. Even a weekend trip can feel like a long vacation with careful planning. It's usually pretty easy to find lodging but if you are heading into a tourist trap at the height of the season you might call ahead for a bed.

All the prep work sound like over-kill? Nothing is worse than being stuck on a road at night with a flat tire and a dead cell phone. Tire changing underway and you cut your hand without having any bandages. Spare tire flat. Hours go by and you have no water or snacks, and no pillow and blanket to use in the back seat while waiting for daylight......Now does preparation make sense?

As you pull out of your driveway you can relax knowing you are ready for just about anything and set out to prove Murphy's Law wrong!