As summer rolls in, many are preparing for family vacations. Exciting! But vacations also require careful planning if you or someone in your family has asthma and allergies.
Maybe you’ve had allergies since you were little. Or maybe you are new to living with asthma. Regardless of your situation, the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program offers these tips to prepare for a safer, healthier trip.
Prepare for Your Medical Needs:
- Refill your prescription medications and pick up over-the-counter medicines.
- Create a list of your current medical conditions, medications, prescribing physician, and dosage.
- If you have asthma or severe allergies, consider ordering and wearing a medical identification bracelet.
- Check with your allergist or doctor to discuss travel-related risks and update your asthma action plan or allergy action plan.
- Get your immunizations, especially a flu shot.
- Check your health insurance policy. Know in advance if your plan will cover doctor or emergency visits in other states or countries.
- Check the weather and pollen forecast for your destination. Use services like Accuweather and Pollen.com
Packing for Your Trip:
- Pack your medications with their original labels on. If possible, bring back-up medicines.
- Always keep your medications with you.
- Be sure to bring your self-injectable epinephrine. These are allowed on airplanes.
- Pack your health insurance card and list of medical conditions and medications.
- To protect against dust mites, pack your own Certified asthma & allergy friendly® pillow or mattress casings.
- Pack your asthma equipment: spacers, nebulizers and peak flow meters. If you use a nebulizer, it should not be left at home.
During Your Trip:
- Always carry your emergency medications with you everywhere you go.
- Know the nearest locations to seek medical treatment.
- Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.
- During hot weather, stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids.
- Reduce your risk of respiratory infections by frequent hand washing and the use of hand sanitizers.
For more tips, visit www.aafa.org/certified.