Healthy Travels – After Check-in

Now What? You are probably thinking, I made it to my room and now I am home free.  No germs here! Not so fast, there is more work to be done to stay healthy while traveling. This neat well-appointed room you just checked into might not be as germ free as you think.  What do you need to do to protect yourself and that of your family?  First, inspect the room.  A good place to start is in the bathroom and do not hesitate to use your disinfectant wipes.

 

Hotel CancunHotelroomNPBbathroom-Jamaicahotelbathroom

 

 

 

 


The following suggestions are also helpful:

  1. If your water glasses are not sealed and pre-wrapped and your ice bucket does not have a plastic liner wash them both with hot soapy water.
  2. Put your remote controls in a clear plastic bag during your stay.
  3. Use your luggage rack instead of your bed when going through your luggage. As the expression goes you don’t know where that luggage has been especially if you checked your luggage with the airlines.
  4. Examine your sheets for any signs of bedbugs. If anything looks unusual alert hotel management right away.
  5. Avoid using your bed spread during your stay as it is not likely to have been washed or changed recently.
  6. If for some reason this is not possible fold the cover back and use the top sheet between you and the cover.
  7. Especially if you have allergies stay away from the drapes. They tend to trap debris and allergens.
  8. Wear slippers or socks and avoid sitting on the furniture where your skin has direct contact with chairs and sofas.
  9. Before you shower rinse the tub with hot water and shampoo;
  10. Unless you give the tub a good scrubbing it might be a good idea to skip taking a bath.

Remember these suggestions should be applied at any hotel. High end properties are no exception. And don’t forget to check your online hotel reviews, they can be very helpful in setting your expectations.

Healthy Travels!

 

By Rosa L. McArthur, CMP 

 

Healthy Travels – Wash Your Hands

Maybe it’s just me but I seem to recall the glory days of travel.  When I could pack everything I needed and even though I limited myself, the amount of liquids packed was not an option.  Now those things are the least of my worries.  My pressing concerns, perhaps like yours are how do I stay healthy while traveling? Catching the common cold use to be our main concern.   But now days we are faced with life threatening viruses. The question is, how do I safeguard my health, and that of loved ones, friends and colleagues during my travels? Simple!

Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands – That simple advice was drilled into us by our parents, and it works. hand washing

  1. Approximately 80% of infections are transmitted by hands.
  2. Avoid touching your food or face before washing your hands
  3. Avoid putting your hands in your mouth
  4. Scrub your hands at least 20 seconds with soap under cool or warm water (if threats of contagious diseases use bleach diluted with water)

What to do when soap and water is not availablesoap

  1. Carry travel size disinfectant and alcohol wipes
  2. Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcoholPurell Hand Sanitizer

How do we know it works?

  1. Reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 31%
  2. Reduces diarrhea illnesses in people with weakened immune systems by 58%
  3. Reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 21%

So let’s get back to basics!  Remember to Wash Your Hands

Healthy Travels!

By: Rosa L. McArthur, CMP