Planning to celebrate the holiday season with loved ones? You’re not alone, and as such, you may encounter lots of traffic as you travel from Point A to Point B.
The holiday season is one of the most popular long-distance travel periods of the year. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) points out long-distance travel (all trips to or from a destination 50 miles or more away) increases 54 percent during the six-day Thanksgiving travel period versus the rest of the year. DOT also reports long-distance travel rises 23 percent during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period in contrast to other time frames during the year.
Clearly, the holiday season is action-packed, particularly for travelers who are visiting distant relatives. Although holiday travel sometimes can be hectic, individuals who plan ahead can minimize risk. As a result, these individuals may be better equipped than others to enjoy a safe, stress-free holiday travel experience.
When it comes to holiday travel, there is no need to leave anything to chance. Now, let’s take a look at four tips to ensure you can safely travel from one destination to the next this holiday season.
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Stay Hydrated
Regardless of whether you’re flying or driving to a holiday destination, it pays to stay hydrated throughout your trip. Because if you fail to drink sufficient amounts of water, you could put your health and well-being in danger.
Dehydration is a serious health threat, one that causes fatigue, irritability and other harmful side effects. Fortunately, individuals who understand the importance of consuming water regularly can limit the risk of dehydration, regardless of where they’re going.
WebMD notes an average person should consume approximately six to eight 8 oz. glasses of water daily. However, it may be tough to drink sufficient amounts of water if you’re on the go, particularly for those who get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
To minimize the chance of dehydration, you should carry a water bottle with you. That way, you can quench your thirst from any location, at any time.
Also, if you start to feel dizzy or nauseous or experience other dehydration symptoms, don’t wait to take a break. Your health is paramount, and if you can identify the signs of dehydration early, you can mitigate dehydration symptoms before they escalate.
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Wash Your Hands with Soap Regularly
This holiday season, don’t let germs dampen your spirits. Instead, wash your hands with soap frequently, and you can keep your hands clean and germ-free while you’re on the road.
Even a dab of soap can quickly be rubbed into the hands and helps eliminate germs instantly. And if you follow the proper steps to wash your hands with soap, you can maximize the effectiveness of any soap that you use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following steps to ensure an individual can effectively wash his or her hands and prevent the spread of germs:
- Wet the hands with clean, running water and apply soap.
- Rub the hands together with soap; don’t forget to lather the backs of the hands, under the nails and between the fingers.
- Scrub the hands for at least 20 seconds (or roughly the length of the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice).
- Rinse the hands using clean, running water.
- Dry the hands with a clean towel.
It often helps to apply hand sanitizer regularly while you’re traveling too. Unlike soap, hand sanitizer is portable and contains alcohol that immediately kills germs on the skin. Furthermore, studies have shown that hand sanitizers may help reduce the risk of spreading stomach and respiratory infections.
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Keep Your Loved Ones Informed
Before you depart for your holiday excursion, you should provide full details about your trip to a family member or friend back home. Give this individual a copy of your travel itinerary and any other pertinent trip information. Additionally, you should provide this person with contact information for where you’ll be staying so he or she can reach you in case of an emergency.
If you have a pet that is staying behind, you’ll want to ensure it is in good hands. Usually, it helps to leave a pet with a family member or friend who can take good care of him or her. You also may choose to hire a house sitter; this individual can keep an eye on your home and pet while you’re away.
Keep your loved ones up to date as you make your way toward your final destination as well. The high volume of holiday travelers often creates congestion on roads and at airports, and this congestion may lead to travel delays. Thus, you’ll want to keep your family members and friends informed to ensure they know you’re safe, as well as when they can expect you to arrive.
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Get Plenty of Rest
An exhausted holiday traveler likely is a cranky holiday traveler. If you get plenty of rest as you make your way to a loved one’s home, you can stay safe – and pleasant – as you complete your holiday journey.
Driving while sleepy can lead to crashing and potentially injuring you or those around you. If you’re driving, plan plenty of breaks along the way. These breaks will enable you to get out of your car, stretch your legs, enjoy a snack and do whatever is necessary to maintain your focus and safety.
On the other hand, if you’re flying, it may be worthwhile to bring a pillow and blanket on the airplane. A pillow and blanket will enable you to rest comfortably and safely until you reach your final destination.
Lastly, it is important to remember that an emergency can happen without notice, even during the holiday season. To learn how to assist emergency victims, you may want to enroll in life-saving training from SureFire CPR. We offer classes that teach individuals about basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other life-saving topics. To find out more, please call us at (888) 277-3143.
