December is a popular month for families to travel overseas. Parents take young children to visit family or friends, or to take advantage of the weeks’-long winter break from school. It can be challenging to travel outside the United States with small children. But the experience should be safe and enjoyable. Follow these guidelines to limit the need for medical transportation services when traveling internationally.
- Wash frequently. Children are famous for putting their hands in their mouths and fingers in their noses. Parents should wash children’s hands frequently with soap and water. Dry their hands thoroughly, or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- Sterilize. Before leaving home, travelers should sterilize bottles, pacifiers or anything else that goes in an infant or small child’s mouth. It is not enough to simply rinse these items. Even a tiny amount of contaminated water can make a baby, child and even an adult sick.
- Bring an FAA-approved car seat. Parents should bring a car seat on the plane that is the appropriate size for their child and FAA-approved. Use it when traveling in friends' and family members' cars. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “car crashes are the leading cause of death in children who travel.” Parents will most likely have to keep small children on their laps during short trips in taxis and similar modes of transportation.
- Expect jetlag and other sleep issues. The excitement of travel, unfamiliar surroundings and the noise of airplanes can all add up to lost sleep. Parents should be flexible and allow time for extra and unexpected naps. Eventually, parents and children will adjust to time zone changes. But expect the return home to be challenging, with up to a week to return to regular sleep schedules.
- Pack more diapers than toys. Disposable diapers purchased overseas are often of a different quality than those available in the United States. They may not be easy to find in some countries. So pack extra diapers in suitcases instead of toys.
- Be careful with food and water. In countries outside of Western Europe, travelers’ diarrhea is a real concern, particularly for babies. Travelers’ diarrhea is caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. It can lead to dehydration in people of all ages. To play it safe, parents should follow these suggestions for themselves and their children: eat food that is served steaming hot; avoid places where food may be allowed to sit and cool, like buffet restaurants; drink bottled water or other drinks from sealed containers only; and eat only fruit and vegetables that can be peeled. If a child develops diarrhea while traveling, the parent should consult a medical professional. Parents also should encourage children to drink extra fluids. For babies, breastmilk can be a good rehydration tool.
- Immunize when possible. Doctors may recommend an accelerated vaccine schedule to prevent diseases such as measles that may be prevalent in the county a family plans to visit. When in doubt, parents should contact a travel medical clinic. They can work with a child’s pediatrician to decide if an accelerated schedule is necessary.
- Protect them from mosquitoes and other insects. In areas where malaria is a concern, children and adults should wear insect repellant. They should also sleep in screened rooms under mosquito nets, if possible. Anti-malarial medicine provides some protection, especially for people traveling to Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. However many antimalarial pills have a bitter taste. Ask a pharmacist or travel medical professional about other formulations.
When Medical Transportation Services are Necessary
Traveling anywhere with children can be an adventure. With smart planning, parents can help children manage the frustration and enjoy the excitement that comes along with experiencing new cultures, foods and living conditions. However, the natural curiosity of babies and children also can make them more susceptible to illnesses or accidents that may require treatment in a local medical clinic or even medical transport back to the United States for continued care.
SentinelMED provides medical transportation services, medical repatriation, and medical escorts to help navigate the complexities of long-distance travel for sick or injured children and adults. The SentinelMED team can arrange door-to-door care and transportation for patients from discharge at a hospital or medical facility to a receiving health care facility, or to a family member who is able to assume their care.
The SentinelMED team understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
