Flying with Kids - Keep them Happy during your Flight

Every parent knows that flying with their children can pose a new set of challenges.  The tedious check in process, cramped seats and dirty looks from other passengers. Sometimes those looks can be warranted if we’re not prepared. 

Depending on your child’s age and stage of development, you can pack a few age specific items to keep them happy, entertained and comfortable while in the air. (These suggestions below are in addition to the staples you will need such as a few extra diapers, baby wipes, a change of clothes and any medications your child needs; all of which should be in your carry-on bag or diaper bag). For general in flight health info, see: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2011/11/seventips-for-healthy-flight.html

Ear pressure and pain – Depending on the child’s age, keep in mind they need to suck or chew during take offs and landings to minimize the pressure on their ears from the change in altitude.  Just as adults want to chew gum or pop their ears, so do kids, they need your help in keeping their ears open. 

• *If your child has a history of ear problems, contact your Pediatrician prior to travel to get their specific advice. Medication(s) may be warranted such as, acetaminophen and, or, decongestants, to name a few.
• Have bottle ready or prepare to breast feed a young child in arms.
• If your child uses a pacifier, have one ready and keep an extra one in your diaper bag, in case the first one gets dirty or lost.
• Have age appropriate snacks ready to give an older toddler or child; choose something they like and are use to eating to reduce the risk of choking.

Food – airline food service has been drastically reduced and on some flights, completely eliminated, so bring some extra food (age appropriate and familiar to them, as above) to have on hand when the hunger pains strike.  

Comfort items – Babies and toddlers usually have a favorite their blanket or soft toy to help calm them and lull them to sleep when they're tired. Some older children also have an attachment to a favorite and may want it (or them) on a trip away from home. 

Entertainment items – Bored kids will not be happy, keep them entertained with small favorite toys.

• Bring 2 small toys and 2 small picture books for a younger child.
• For older children who are already into electronic gadgets, bring 1 or 2 handheld ones that they can play with when they get bored.

Don’t forget to contact the airline(s) regarding their policies for carry-on and checked baggage, seating assignments and stroller check-in procedures.  *If you have any medical questions or concerns, contact your child’s pediatrician well before your trip.

SevenTips for a Healthy Flight

Whether you are you flying to see family for the holidays, or are a frequent flyer for business, here are some tips to help you stay healthy on your trip. For additional info on general illness/flu prevention, see: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2011/10/8-tips-for-you-to-outsmart-flu-part-2.html.

1. Stay hydrated - Most people are so busy packing and closing up their homes in preparation for their trip, they forget to keep up their fluid intake prior to departure. Staying hydrated will help to prevent some illnesses from germs you encounter during your flight and trip.  Moist mucus membranes are better equipped to fight off germs.  Prior to and during your flight; limit your alcohol and caffeine intake as both of these make you urinate more and place you at risk for dehydration. Staying well hydrated helps to prevent DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and jet lag. Purchase a water bottle once you get past the security gate to have some extra on hand for your flight.
2. DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Prevention- Flex and rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes every 30 minutes and get up out of your seat at least every 2 hours to help prevent blood from pooling in the veins of your feet and legs. Maintain all treatments already implemented by your physician if you are already at risk, for example, continue your daily dose of Aspirin (if you doctor has prescribed it), it’s so important especially when flying to help prevent a DVT. Keep up your water intake (as above).
3. Don’t drink alcohol on your flight- In addition to placing you at risk for dehydration and DVT; alcohol impairs your judgment and reaction time if there’s an emergency.
4. Pack your must haves in your carry-on bag- This includes any prescription and OTC (over the counter) medications you take, contact lenses, a small solution bottle, and your extra pair of eyeglasses.  Just in case your checked baggage gets delayed or lost, you will have your essentials with you. Additional info in a related article is at: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2011/07/healthy-travel-tips-1-bring-basics.html
5. Bring hand sanitizer - Starting with the dirty/germ laden bins we have to touch to place our shoes and personal items in, (and which are handled by countless people every day), or, for use prior to eating and after toileting, keep a small bottle hand in your pocket or carry-on bag to clean your hands when soap and water are not handy or in addition to soap and water for extra cleaning.
6. Bring anti-bacterial wipes- Bring a small pack in your carry-on bag and use it once you’re settled in your seat.  Wipe down your arm rests, seat belt and buckle, tray table and overhead light switches to remove germs prior to your touching these items.  *Bring an extra pack or 2 in your checked baggage for use in your hotel room to wipe down the TV remote, light switches, doorknobs and counter tops you will be touching.  Recent research has proven that these areas are fraught with germs.
7. Don’t drink ice on planes- There have been reports and controversy surrounding the safety and cleanliness of ice on planes.  In the interim, stick with chilled drinks or room temperature and no ice.

Healthy Travel Tips - # 6 - Review the U.S. State Department's Travel Alerts

      Check out the U.S. Government's  State Department for Travel Alerts on their website if you will be going out of the country at: www.state.gov/  - This brings you to their main page. Look for the "Travel Alert" Section.  Once there, a list of countries appears that have current travel alerts. One can obtain general info, alerts and advisories that the U.S. State Department feels U.S. Citizens should have prior to travel to that specific location.  These include local crime patterns as well as the terrorism concerns for US Citizens.  You will want to learn what areas within a country to avoid as well as what countries to completely avoid and not to travel to at all. Do your homework and research what countries you plan on visiting to to raise your chances of a experiencing a safe trip.     

Health Travel Tips # 5 - Verify your Medical Insurance before your Trip

     Call you medical insurance company in advance to find out if you are covered if you travel. Whether traveling within the same state, out of state, or out of the country; check to make sure you are covered and for what types of illnesses/visits. Some plans may only cover life threatening emergencies and all other care may need to be preauthorized.  Some plans may not cover you at all if your are out of your country of residence. If you are not covered, you may need to purchase an travel medical insurance plan.  (Some plans, in particular HMO's also known as Health Maintenance Organizations, may not even cover care outside of your local area without calling for a preauthorization). Check with your medical insurance carrier regarding their coverage and rules for all travel; within the same state, out of state within the US and especially for foreign travel.


Find out what procedure you need to follow if you need to see a doctor or go to an emergency room in a different area. If you have to purchase additional insurance, see what your insurance carrier recommends. You can also check with the airline you are flying to see what plans they may offer, and, or, your travel agent that are booking your trip with. They can serve as a resource for possible company names, rates and coverage/plan info. Do this research well in advance to give you time in case you need to make an additional purchase. By doing so, you can leave with the peace of mind knowing your are covered and enjoy your trip. 

Healthy Travel Tips # 4 - Learn the Basics; Take a First Aid, CPR and AED class

      Take a CPR, AED and First Aid Class.  Learn how to perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and how to operate an AED machine (Automated External Defibrillator) which are now located in many public places such as airports. These skills are essential for rendering assistance if someone near you has a Cardiac Arrest. Learning how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on someone who is choking is usually included in this class. The Heimlich Maneuver is an another critical lifesaving skill.  Learn First Aid so you know the basics about self care (or caring for others) for cuts (lacerations), sprains and heat exhaustion, to name a few. A good place to start in looking for classes is to contact your local Red Cross or American Heart Association.  You can also contact hospitals in your area as some offer these classes for the community on a rotating schedule.  If they don't have them, they may serve as a resource for you as to where to go. *The life you save could be your own, a cherished loved one or a stranger needing your help.

      Call 911 go to an Emergency Room for any Urgent Symptoms. Severe pain of any kind, bleeding, injuries, dehydration (to include diarrhea and vomiting), altered mental status, vision problems, difficulty speaking or moving or symptoms of any type of infection should be treated by a Physician; if you are not sure if you should get help, err on the side of caution and go to a Licensed Medical Professional for care without delay. These tips are useful anytime, while at home, in your local neighborhood and area or while traveling.  

Healthy Travel Tips # 3 - Vaccines and Prophylactic Prescriptions

Planning a trip is the perfect time to ascertain if your vaccines are up to date, and, if they are not, to begin the process of catching up. Check out the CDC (The U.S. Centers for Disease Control) website at: www.cdc.gov/  They have an informative section on "Traveler's Health" along with a vaccine section regarding recommended vaccines and intervals. The next step is to review your personal vaccine records. Always keep a copy at home for review.  If you don't have a copy at home, contact your health care provider (s) to see if they have any of your vaccine records. If not, you can contact previous schools or colleges (depending on when you attended, they may still have your records, or they may not, if too much time has elapsed). Make an appointment with your health care provider, a local clinic or a travel medicine clinic if you need vaccines (or are not sure if you need any, they can give you guidance on this).  Always call in advance regarding appointments/scheduling and to see if they have the vaccines on hand that you think you may need.  If you have vaccines records, bring them to your appointment for the health care professional to review.

Viewing the CDC website is especially important when preparing for travel outside of the country to educate yourself on any local diseases that are prevalent at your travel destination (s) and what medicines, and, or special vaccines you should have prior to travel. For example, if you are going to an area where Malaria is prevalent, you will need to take a Prescription medication for prevention (prophylaxis). Also, there may be vaccines that are recommended that are not part of routine health care (certain ones for a specific part of the world only). The CDC website also offers a map of the world that lists info regarding disease prevalence by country along with vaccine recommendations; all good info to be aware of  before your visit to you health care provider. 


You can discuss the info you obtain with your HCP (Health Care Provider); Doctor, Nurse Practitioner or Registered Nurse that is seeing you. If the vaccine(s) for your destination are one of the more obscure ones, you may need to go to a travel clinic as not all doctors offices and clinics carry all vaccines. Your health care provider can guide you on this.  


Start this process well in advance before you travel, so you can follow the recommended schedules for Prophylactic Medications and Vaccines with the goal of being covered by the time you begin your trip. 

Healthy Travel Tips # 2 - Refill your Prescriptions in Advance

      Refill any prescriptions you may need before you leave so you won't run out on your trip. Do this at least 3 to 4 days before you travel.  Whether you have refills left and can simply call them in to your pharmacy or if you are out of refills and need to call your doctor for a refill authorization. Give yourself a buffer of time so your refill (s) can get processed and you can pick them up before your trip.

Healthy Travel Tips # 1 – Bring the Basics

Summer is here and vacation trips abound; this is Part One of a series of health related travel tips. Bring the Basics regarding first aid supplies. This is especially important if you’re traveling to a rural area or out of the United States, but good practice for any trip. Prepare and carry a small pack of OTC (over the counter) medicines to take on your trip so you don't have to scramble finding a pharmacy or grocery store late at night in a new location.


Oral Medications: Read and follow all directions on the package labels regarding dosing and warnings on all medications.

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) for pain or fever.  
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergy symptoms (or your favorite antihistamine).  
• Loperamide (Imodium) for diarrhea.          
• Meclizine (Dramamine) for motion sickness. If you are flying, make sure you carry medicines in their original containers or foil packs (which are flat and easy for packing).

Topical Supplies:

• Band-Aids (2 each in various sizes). 
• Antibiotic cream.  
• Corn & Callous pads. These come in small flat packages that are easy to pack and helpful if you anticipate a lot of walking.

Last but not least, seek care from a Licensed Physician or go to an Emergency Room if you have any severe or urgent symptoms.