Friday, April 15, 2011

Travel Time Care Tips for Your Children


What is more fun than going on a holiday with your family? But you don't want your holiday to be ruined because someone gets sick. If you are traveling with children you should always keep in mind that they are much more susceptible to disease and sensitive to heat, cold, wind and sun.

Tips-1: A child's skin is more sensitive to UV rays than that of an adult. Between 11:00 a.m. and 04:00 p.m., it is recommended to keep children out of the sun. Children younger than three should visit the beach in the shade of a parasol. Make sure that the body of your children is well coated with clothing or a towel. Using sunglasses or a hat can also be very useful, especially if they have not had much contact with the sun in the past.

Always take along a good sunscreen with a high protection factor of at least 30. If you go to the beach, choose a waterproof sunscreen and cover your child with it every two hours. If your child plays a lot in the water, reapply it even more frequently. Also ensure your child drinks a lot, but only sugar-free drinks like water, unsweetened juice and cold tea.

Tips-2: Children are very vulnerable travelers and can be prone to diarrhea. This may be caused by contaminated food or heat. It is important that your child drinks a lot of water when they have diarrhea, especially infants and toddlers. They are indeed very sensitive to moisture loss. The best remedy for children younger than 12 is without a doubt, ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution). It is a composition of salt and sugar, which can be found at the pharmacy with a sweet taste, especially for children. Never use Imodium on children younger than twelve.

Tips-3: Ensure your child does not start scratching from an insect bite and causing an infection. Wash the area clean with a disinfectant or cover it with a plaster. If your child is stung by a wasp, you should remove the sting as quickly as possible. This is best done with your fingernails, so that the sting does not break. You can prevent the swelling becoming worse by rubbing the area with vinegar or lemon juice.

If you are not sure which insect has stung your child, it is recommended to seek medical assistance. If your child, is weak, dizzy, nauseous or vomiting after a bite, it is an indication of an allergic reaction and you should go directly to a hospital. Pharmacists have several remedies, but always make sure they are suitable to children.

Tips-4: Children under six are very susceptible to ear infections. Frequent swimming on a holiday is in most cases the cause of ear infections. The presence of moisture, bacteria and fungi around the area of the eardrum can manifest itself after an external ear infection. An otitis media is a form of ear infection that occurs mainly to children under six who just have had a common cold, measles or chickenpox. Children under two should be treated immediately by a doctor. Older children can be treated with remedies from the pharmacy, unless it is accompanied with high fever. If the earache is not gone after three days, it is best to consult a doctor.

Tips-5: A tick bite is dangerous to everybody. The venomous insect occurs most often in the forest. Avoid high bushes and walk on the paths as much as possible. Make sure your children's body is kept covered completely with clothing and also wear a hat or a cap. A tick bite often is stuck on the head, neck or arms. If you should find a tick on your child's body, remove it within 24 hours. You can use a tweezers or a pen, which you can find in the pharmacy. Under no circumstances may you squash, burn or numb the tick with alcohol. If the red spot is increasing, contact a doctor and always remember the date of the bite.

Always watch your children very closely and look out for unusual behavior. Wherever you travel, always inquire where you can get medical care should you need it.