Health Tips for Winter Travel by Car

Health tips for winter travel by car include things you should take on the trip and things you should get done before you leave for the trip.

When traveling by car, just as any other type of travel, you should get your shots before taking a winter trip. The flu shot should be taken every year. This year you should also get the swine flu shot. A pneumonia shot is taken every five years and a tetanus shot is taken every 10 years.

Be sure to take all medications that anyone in the family takes. Also have over the counter medications for anything that you may need while on the trip. This would include medications for such things as headache, allergies, upset stomach, an antibotic, a laxative, a diarrhea medicine, and motion sickness pills. A well stocked personal care kit could save your vacation from becoming a tragedy.

When traveling by car in the winter Use advanced planning for the trip. Decide how many hours you will travel each day. Get eight hours of sleep each night. Don't ever sleep at a rest area, check into a motel.

Unfortunately, I was with some members of my family on a long trip and one cousin needed (actually wanted) to get home in one day. The 15 hour trip by car was stressful and we were really fatiqued. After finally getting home, I slept for two days. This just put a damper on the ending of a good vacation.

Take at least one map. You may want to have a state map and a regional map. A GPS is very helpful to use if you know the address of your destination.

Traveling by car can cause fatigue and/or stress even when driving a manageable amount of time each day. Stop at least every 1.5 hours and go to the rest room, stretch and do a little walking. You will not be nearly as tired when you reach your destination.

When stopping at rest rooms or restaurants, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water. Try to touch as few things as possible. If the restroom door is a push door then push it with you arm or elbow. Coming out of the restroom, I use a paper towel if it is available to touch the doorknob. When you get back in your car use a hand sanitizer to clean your hands and kill germs. You may want to rub some of the hand sanitizer in your nostrils in case you encountered someone who sneezed or coughed near you while you were on your stop.

Before leaving for a winter trip by car get the tires checked to make sure they have plenty of tread. Get a mechanic to check your car to be sure it is ok for winter travel. If your are planning on traveling on roads with snow then have your snow chains for your tires.

When packing the car, take into consideration how long you'll be gone and what the climate is like where you are going. Use weather.com, or a similar site, to get a 10 day forcast of the weather. Carry some blankets or quilts in case you car is stalled on an isolated road. Also, take some food but don't take snacks like chocolate candy and sweets. Take plenty of water. Also take an ice scraper and of course take a cell phone, even though I doubt if very people would be without their cell phone.

Use the health tips suggested in this article to help plan your trip. Also have everyone going on the trip also think of other things you need to do in order to have a happy and safe winter trip by car.