Staying Healthy During Spring Break

It's time for a spring break and many families are taking advantage of the time off for a little getaway.

Whether you are traveling during the upcoming break or taking a "staycation" we have a few tips to help you stay healthy and avoid illness. 

You could also follow these tips during the holidays, and anytime, really.

Eat healthy and balanced meals. It's tempting to load up on carbs and sweets because, we are on vacation. Do stay away from sketchy-looking restaurants. Yes, you may enjoy hole-in-the-wall kinds of places off the beaten tourist path, but be smart about it. Food poisoning is a sure-fire way to kill your vacation.

Don't overindulge in alcohol. You don't really want to have a hangover on your vacation. Too much alcohol can lead to bad decisions.

And while we're on the subject...

It's important to note that if you have college students going on a spring break trip with friends, they will need a few more things to think about for their packing list and ways in which to be safe while traveling. Some good weblinks for this are found here and here.

Keep your hands washed. Good hand hygiene is important at all times, but when you really need to stay well, it's even more important. If you are flying to a great destination or simply taking a day off to head out of town, remember that germs do not take a vacation. Ever.

Sleep. For many of us, taking time off means catching up on sleep or rest. If you are traveling by car, this is especially important. Driving while drowsy is every bit as dangerous as driving drunk. Take frequent breaks to get out of the car. It is tempting to push yourself to keep going but you could end up sick or in the ER on your vacation.

Be flexible. Don't stress about little things that don't go as planned. Sometimes those detours provide us with the best experiences and stories to tell. 

Use sunscreen liberally. After the winter we've had, the idea of basking in warm sunshine sounds simply glorious. Just be sure to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 and do limit the time you spend under the sun. Your skin will thank you for it and you won't spend your vacation nursing a nasty sunburn.

Above all, have fun, be smart about what you do and where you are, and relax. Take the time to unplug from your daily life at work and home as much as you possibly can. A vacation should be a break from the everyday, even if you are staying at home. 

For more tips, go to:

http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm049047.htm

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/keeping-healthy-while-flying