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Safe Summer Travel Tips

Whether you’re going camping over a long weekend or traveling to exotic locations over a period of several weeks or longer, summer travel can be a lot of fun, and the highlight of your year. But it can also be stressful and potentially dangerous. Traveling to unfamiliar destinations can bring out the sort of troubles that are difficult to resolve, especially away from home. The best way to cope with potential problems is to be prepared for the unexpected before you leave home. Here are some suggestions to improve your chances of traveling happily, safely and in good health this summer.

Pack This First
No matter where you’re going, it’s always smart to assemble a basic first aid kit. You should include antiseptic liquid, gauze, an assortment of bandages, scissors, adhesive tape, cotton balls, Q-tips, alcohol pads, hydrogen peroxide, tweezers, sting and insect bite lotions, instant hot/cold packs and a small flashlight. If you wear eyeglasses, take at least one extra pair with you. Carry your prescription medicines and extra eyewear in your hand luggage so you’ll have access to them in case your checked luggage is lost. To be extra secure, pack an extra supply of your prescription medication and an additional pair of eyeglasses in your checked luggage. If you have allergies, bad reactions to specific drugs, foods, or insect bites, or any other specialized medical problem, wear a “medical alert” bracelet. It’s also a good idea to carry a letter from your physician explaining required treatment should you become ill.

Standing Ovation
Nearly all trips involve a lot of standing and walking. When you travel, make sure to wear a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. And be sure to break them in before you leave. You’ll be walking a lot more than you’re used to and you’ll have to deal with luggage and lifting heavier loads, too. If you have a comfortable, supportive foundation your joints will thank you for it – both on your journey and for years to come.

Your joints will also thank you for giving them the right nutrition in order to function properly. To help keep your joints healthy while you’re traveling, try Schiff® Move Free Advanced. It’s the only formula with the Advantage of 4®. Uniflex® protects, Joint Fluid replenishes, and Glucosamine and Chondroitin help rebuild joints. And it’s clinically shown to start comforting sore joints in less than 7 days vs. 4-6 weeks with Glucosamine and Chondroitin alone.*

Fitness On The Road
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle while traveling and on vacation is always a challenge. Changes in your routines, a steady diet of restaurant food, limited access to fitness centers and workout regimens all make it difficult to work exercise and good nutrition into your travels. Luckily, there are some basic guidelines to enhance your well-being when you’re away from home:

Drink lots of water throughout your travels. Keep a bottle of water within reach at all times. It will keep you hydrated, alert and reduce hunger pangs.

Keep your muscles moving. Whether you’re traveling by air, train, boat or car, it’s important to keep your muscles moving and blood circulating, even if that means stretching in your seat or lifting your legs in the car or airplane.

Be flexible and make accommodations for others. Your family members or traveling companions may need more frequent rest breaks than you. Realize that different people have different levels of fitness and endurance.

Try to relax and recuperate. Often we need a vacation after our vacation. Work a little down-time into your vacation schedule.

Don’t overeat. While that all-you-can-eat buffet might look tempting, stick to meals full of nutrition like vegetables, fruit and salads instead of rich food with empty calories.

Because you often can’t predict where, what and when you’ll be eating, don’t forget to pack your vitamin supplements. We recommend supplementing your intake of essential vitamins and minerals with a good multivitamin. Schiff® Single Day Multivitamin provides a variety of essential vitamins and minerals in a convenient, once-daily tablet. Schiff also offers a variety of other multivitamins, including Schiff® Prime Years Multivitamin, which is specifically designed to meet the changing nutritional needs of people who are 55 or older.

Be Aware
We live in a world of digital maps, travel apps, GPS devices and interactive travel information so the actual task of getting from point A to point B is often a no-brainer. But that doesn’t mean we should put our brains on automatic pilot when we’re traveling. On the contrary, many travelers fall prey to criminals when away from home and in unfamiliar territory. The key to safe travel in any location is situational awareness. Here’s some proactive advice to remember when you’re traveling:

If you use luggage tags, make sure they’re covered. It’s also a good precaution not to list your home address on the tag. Your phone number is sufficient information.

Stay with your luggage until you see it being checked. Whenever you put down your bags, keep them touching you or close to your feet.

Never check anything in your luggage that you can’t afford to lose. If you’re traveling abroad, photocopy your passport, driver’s license and your credit cards and keep those papers with you all the time. Only travel with one or two credit cards.

Have tips ready in advance and never flash your money or wallet in public.

Don’t use unmarked taxi cabs or independent drivers. Only pay the driver after you’ve arrived at your destination and while you’re sitting in the vehicle.

Only rent a car from a reputable company.

Be aware of “staged” car accidents. If you are bumped by another car, think before you get out. If you are in doubt or uncomfortable, signal the other driver to follow you to a nearby police station or a busy, well-lit area where it’s safe to get out.

Park only in lighted, well-traveled areas close to building entrances and walkways.

When traveling on business, don’t wear name tags in public.

If your cell phone doesn’t work outside of the country, consider renting a temporary one that functions in the country or region of your trip.

Carry your purse close to your body, or your wallet in an inside front pocket. Better yet, wear a money pouch under your clothes.

Avoid displaying expensive cameras, jewelry and luggage that might draw unwanted attention to you.

Familiarize yourself with local train and bus schedules before traveling abroad. Have an alternate plan in place in the event your transportation changes or is canceled.

If traveling with children, bring along an updated photograph in case you become separated from them. Write your child's name and your hotel number on a slip of paper. Include a close friend or relative's contact information. Give this slip of paper to your child to carry with them as long as you are away.

Discuss with your family what they would do in event of an emergency while you’re away from home. Include information like who they could call, how to contact emergency personnel, and other important information.

Crime is often random but there’s a lot you can do to avoid becoming a victim. Awareness of potential dangers is your best weapon and will help make your trip safe and enjoyable.

Traveling Abroad With Disabilities
Every country has its own standards of accessibility for disabled travelers. If traveling abroad, make sure to do your research before you leave the country. Learn about planned stops and ask about available services. When making reservations, inform the agent about your disability and request any needed equipment like a wheelchair or other assistance. Make sure you have adequate health insurance coverage, including coverage for medical evacuation, which is not covered by most domestic policies. If you are an American citizen and you become seriously ill or injured abroad, a U. S. consular officer can assist in locating medical services and informing family or friends. If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States. Go to www.travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1215.html to read Medical Information for Americans Abroad.

Uniflex® Proprietary Extract is covered by U.S. Patent No. 7,108,868, No. 7,192, 611 and additional patents pending.

* Human clinical study (Los Angeles, 2008).

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

† Independent Human Clinical Study (Los Angeles, 2008)