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Let’s face it, 2020 was not a year when most of us were able to travel extensively. 2021 will likely be much of the same, at least for the time being. However, there are still plenty of ways to travel safely as long as you commit to being conscientious.
Still, if you plan to take a winter vacation, then you should not forget to keep your personal health in mind during your trip. Besides the obvious risk of COVID-19, there are plenty of other health risks present during winter travel, so it’s best to be prepared. How can you keep yourself safe? What care should you seek if a problem develops?
Common Winter Health Risks
Winter vacations might mean trips to visit family & friends, vacations in a warmer part of the country, or skiing trips. If you do plan to travel, then you will of course have to keep safety in mind. A few things to remember are:
- Participating in winter sports can lead to multiple injuries, including broken bones, head injuries and internal injuries.
- Sunburn is also a risk during winter, even if it is cold. Additionally, snow can reflect light, and enhance these effects.
- Cold is unhealthy, and if you go outside without warm clothing, you put yourself at risk of frostbite, hypothermia and other illnesses like pneumonia.
Plus, winter is cold & flu season. Regardless of the presence of COVID-19, you can still catch any number of other illnesses. Influenza, the average cold, bronchitis, pneumonia and similar respiratory ailments could be very harmful if you are unlucky enough to catch them.
Healthy Ways to Travel This Winter
Of course, if you plan to travel this winter, there are plenty of extra precautions you should plan to take. You can expect face covering requirements, social distancing rules and capacity regulations to be in effect throughout the nation.
However, there are a few other things to do to make sure you keep yourself healthy. Dress for the environment, keep a proper supply of medication and other remedies with you, and of course wash your hands. Additionally, take all of your regular prescription medication with you, and maintain your regular health maintenance schedule.
If you do get sick, however, then don’t panic. Your health insurance network often covers a myriad of hospitals and other medical care providers, including urgent care services and walk-in clinics. Therefore, you should be able to receive covered care no matter where you are traveling. Still, you should make sure you visit the right network provider and have the highest portion of your care covered.
