Traveling During a Pandemic: What You Need
Most of us have grown a bit restless and antsy living in our “new norm” and the strict social distancing measures that we find everywhere. Our state and local governments have continually encouraged us to stay home all these months, only adding to what feels like a long solitary confinement sentence to our already stir-crazy families.
Something has to give. After all, this is usually the time of year that families go on vacation for a change in scenery, head to the beach to catch a break from our stressful lives, or enjoy that last getaway before school starts. When you travel during a pandemic, let’s talk about what you need.
Related: Infection Prevention Tips to Stay Healthy
Traveling During a Pandemic: What You Need
Recently, with businesses and vacation destinations that have started to open back up, along with the traveling bans being loosened significantly, many Americans have made the decision that it’s time to pack their suitcases. Maybe you’ve been thinking about traveling, or you’re in a situation that’s left you with little choice but to travel, but you’re left wondering if it’s safe to do so?
There’s no way to deny that traveling is taking a greater risk of being exposed to the virus, not to mention the more challenges that you will have to face to protect yourself from the virus. However, there are a number of precautions that you can take to keep your family safe while doing so. Here’s more on traveling during a pandemic and everything that you will need.
Vitamins, Pain-Killers, and Prescriptions
Prior to your visit, it’s imperative that each person in your family has an immune system that’s running top-notch. When our immune systems are not functioning at their maximum level, that’s when we’re more susceptible to catching viruses and infections. Be sure to keep up with your vitamins each day, long before you travel.
As the day for your departure approaches, make sure that you’ve packed enough vitamins, pain-killers, medicines, and other prescriptions that you need that will last you during your travel period. In case you missed this post, 35 OTC Medications You Should Store
Face Masks
No matter what part of the country you live in, face masks these days are being treated more like a ticket of entry in the businesses that you visit. They’ve also been found to effectively lower the spread of Covid-19, so if you’re not wanting to be stuck in a hotel the entire time, make sure that you bring one for each of your family members with some spares in case they are damaged or lost.
Hand Sanitizer Spray and Alcohol-Based Tissue Wipes
When you’re desperate and left with nowhere to wash your hands, don’t make the mistake of traveling without hand sanitizing spray for extra backup. Personal hygiene is the best way to keep your family healthy during a pandemic and should not ever be compromised. Also, be sure to scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds when you are in a situation where you can wash your hands.
- It’s nearly impossible to go throughout the day without touching a handful of surfaces when you’re in public.
- This can be unsettling because Covid-19 has proven to survive on those same surfaces for a long period of time.
- That’s why it will be smart if you bring alcohol-based wipes so that you can wipe down those surfaces to kill germs and other bacteria. You can even use them on your phone and other devices that also come into contact with other surfaces.
- Of course, soap and water are awesome as well!
Lysol To-go Spray
When you’re left with no choice but to use a public restroom that hundreds of other people have used before you, don’t sit down without using Lysol Disinfectant To-go Spray first. It disinfects any surface while killing bacteria and viruses by up to 99.9%. Remember the bathroom door latch and handle, along with the toilet flush handle or push button.
Water Bottle
In the past, you may have relied more on the convenience of public drinking fountains at each rest stop to stay hydrated. That way you didn’t have to drop $2 for bottled water at the convenience store. Most places that you visit now have their drinking fountains blocked off from public use, so you’ll need another way to quench your thirst.
The Nomader collapsible water bottle is designed in such a way to keep germs out of your mouth. It’s extremely durable, leak-proof, and is great for on the go.
Pack Extra Meals
If you’re looking for other ways to reduce the risk of catching the virus, how about packing extra meals so that you don’t have to stop by restaurants and drive-thrus as often? You could plan for a few picnics that not only get you outside for some fresh air, but keep you from tighter spaces with more people. Don’t forget to pack extra snacks to meet those cravings head-on so that you don’t have to stop for a snack as often.
No-Touch Door Opener
You don’t necessarily need one of these, but the No-touch Door Opener can bring you extra peace of mind when you’re stressing out while in a public setting. This is a handy little tool that hooks right on to your keychain, keeping you from having to use your own hands while opening doors and pushing elevator buttons.
Disposable Gloves
Disposable gloves are a cheaper method that you can use when you have no choice but to touch surfaces while you’re out in public. These are especially something that you need when you have to use a public restroom. Please stay safe during this crazy time. It’s a good idea to take a small package of disinfecting wipes as well!
Final Word
Staying home is in fact the very best way to keep your family safe until the duration of this pandemic is over. But if you’ve reached a point where you’re tired from following the stay at home orders, I understand where you’re coming from and I’m not here to argue. We all feel the need for a break from the strict guidelines of staying indoors as much as possible, even when you know they help keep us safe.
It’s all about traveling during a pandemic: what you need! Just remember to bring along with you several of these essential items that can continue to keep you safe and healthy. P.S. Don’t forget to wear masks! May God Bless this world, Linda.
Copyright Images: Traveling by Road AdobeStock_331406299 by nickolya, Granola Bars Deposit photos_99362456_s-2019
Just a suggestion to also occasionally disinfect the bottom of shoes, either by wiping or spraying disinfectant on them. I don’t do this every time I get in or out of the vehicle. But if I’ve been to Sam’s Club or a busy gas station & am going home or to a friend’s house, I do. Most of my friends are in the over 65 crowd, as are we.
So looking forward to going camping soon! Thanks for all the great advice and articles!
Hi BDN, oh camping sounds so wonderful!! I would love to go camping and cook outside and smell the pine trees! You know, I like this idea of spraying our shoes before coming in the house. I finally found some Lysol Spray. I have never been the family that makes people take their shoes off before entering but NOW I think differently. Great tip! Stay well, Linda
We aren’t going anywhere for a while. We’re waiting till there are no more cases for a month or more. Besides, we’re redoing things in our kitchen. Not remodeling, just putting in some pull out, under counter drawers. I’m loving them! We’re putting them in a few at a time. They are worth the money to us. No more standing on your head, to fund things in the cabinet?
Hi Deborah, oh my gosh, I have a few of those, I LOVE them. No more bending down to reach for something clear at the back!! Woohoo! Mark and I are not going anywhere anytime too soon. My husband is 74 and I just turned 70 so, our travel will be limited. I would like to go see my kids and grandkids but I need to see how the COVID numbers go. We take vitamins every day and Emergenc-C, we are eating fruits and vegetables. In other words, we are doing everything we can to stay well. Stay well, my friend, Linda
Linda, I’ll soon be 69, and hubby 71, so we know what you mean. The last trip we went on was for our 30th anniversary. We went to Hawaii for a week. It was awesome. We went in early December. Our anniversary is December 24. I’d love to go again sometime, but I don’t want any delays next time. It took us a total of 25 hours to get there. A lot less time coming back.
I do love cruising too. It is the ultimate Woman’s vacation. No cooking, no cleaning, just doing whatever you want whenever you want. There’s always something to do if you want, but you don’t have to do anything. We always get a balcony room. It’s more expensive, but so worth it! You can sit out there and enjoy the view and weather. If you like to people watch, there’s always the Lido deck.
Hi Deborah, I’m with you on the balcony rooms on a cruise! I had to giggle that a cruise is the ultimate woman’s vacation! Oh my gosh, you are so right. No cooking, no cleaning, no routine the whole time. You can eat when you want and get ice cream in the middle of the day with toppings of your choice. Oh my, the choices at dinner time, what can we say. I would love TWO of those, please. Life is so good. Those were the days, great memories. Great comment, Linda
Linda, what an excellent article! Geez, on a humorous note, I got Lysol travel size sprays and had put them in my boys Xmas stockings, sort of as a joke, but they really liked them for their cars…and this of course was long before covid hit…their comments on usage: ” I got friends who(a list): farts a lot, doesn’t wash hands after using toilet, smokes cigs in my car (which is allowed by them and is their choice).” Plus, of course my boys and their friends go to fast food places, manage to leave trash in car til the back seat floorboard is full…hey, at least they were used to using disinfectant spray, lol. As to travel during this pandemic, I made a suggestion to my sis who really likes to get out and about: do ‘stay-cations’. As in, find local outdoor places to visit within an hour or two away. Bring picnic lunches. Go home at night, instead of being in a hotel. I used to do this every Friday all summer long when my boys were young. I think we enjoyed this more than doing a week long vacation. My sis is planning a stay-cation for them this holiday weekend, though she’d much rather travel to see us, but it’s really not safe to do this. After all, it’s about protecting others, right?
Hi Wendy, I would love to do a stay-cation!! I’m with you right now we need to be extra careful. I live in Southern Utah where there is a National Park about 30 minutes away and we have hiking and biking trails plus lakes galore so it’s a great place to visit. I stay home so I can stay well, at least for now. Life is good, but we all need to be cautious. Linda
We have been retired for 15 years now, and always drove south for several months in the winter. Now that a ride in the country requires gloves, masks, and sanitizers just to stop at a roadside vegetable stand, I truly don’t see us going anywhere for the next year.
Hi Chris, it really is sad, going for a ride right now is not as fun as it used to be for sure. Linda
My family and I traveled recently, and our biggest obstacle was finding restaurants that were open for more than just carry out, and places that were open for bathroom use. The larger gas stations with convenience stores became our friend for this. We ate a lot of meals in our car or hotel room.
For safety, we traveled with hand sanitizer, wipes, disinfectant spray, lots of drinks and snacks. I went into the hotel room ahead of every one else and disinfected everything. We also brought our own blankets to use, since the hotel ones aren’t washed as often as I’d like. One thing we found, was that the hotel rooms (two different hotels), had the rooms empty for 48 hours in between guests.
Hi Melinda, thanks for the heads up on the 48 hours between guests. Great and safe idea! I could not travel without a lot of bathrooms along the way. Yikes! I’m glad to hear about the gas stations and convenience stores. I love hearing you are out and about and taking precautions. We have to get people back to work and socializing soon. I’m with you with the blankets in hotels, I like your idea of bringing your own. Great comment! Linda
Lysol and Clorox got all the attention, but Spic and Span makes a disinfectant that works just as well and doesn’t smell as bad. I poured some in the travel size spray bottles to keep in the car and by the front door. I also used it to pour on some paper towels and put in a ziploc bag. I buy a couple of bottles every month.
Also, check with your airline if flying, but ours (Alaska Airlines) announced that it wouldn’t be using the air conditioning to reduce the air circulation of germs. So take a hand fan and a towel that you can wet if heat is an issue for you. Stay Hydrated!
HI Davette, a great reminder on the Spic and Span. They have been low on it this last year. I love that stuff! Wow, no air conditioning on the airplanes, thank you for the heads up. I would need a fan for sure. It’s awesome to hear others are as concerned about germs as me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Linda.