Keeping Your Children Safe From Disease While Traveling

chicago limo, shuttle service, limo service chicagoWith recent reports of a rare childhood respiratory virus emerging in Chicago, parents may want to be especially cautious with their children. It sometimes seems that everyone gets sick while traveling -- especially children. With that in mind, you may want to take some steps to ensure your child's safety the next time you go on a trip.

Make Sure They're Getting Their Sleep

Younger children can need upwards of 12 hours of sleep a day and a lack of sleep can severely compromise a child's immune system, rendering it ineffective at warding away illness. In fact, one of the primary reasons that people tend to get sick on trips is not because of the exposure to germs (though that doesn't help) but because they are stressed, tired and immunocompromised. In the days leading up to your trip, make sure your kids get their rest!

Teach Them Positive Hygiene Habits

While you can't control everything your child touches, you can control how they react. Instill positive hygiene habits, such as wiping down their hands with wipes before they eat and using hand sanitizer periodically throughout the day.

Feed Them Additional Servings Of Fruits And Vegetables

They say that an apple a day will keep the doctor away -- but other vegetables and fruits will do the trick, too. Berries and citrus fruits contain vitamin C and other phytonutrients, which are believed to promote the health of white blood cells. Throughout your trip, make sure your child gets enough of these valuable nutrients.

Avoid Public Transportation

Public transportation is often considered a primary vector of infection because there are so many people packed in such close quarters. Face masks do very little to protect you -- nor does hand sanitizer -- because there is so much body-to-body contact. If you're worried about your children's health, it's best to avoid this option entirely and arrange for other ground transportation services.

Don't forget to check in with your pediatrician for any additional information they can give you regarding current health concerns. They may even be able to inoculate your children against current strains of virus.

Posted on Sep 12 2014