By Dr. David Reichert, CCRA | Contributor
After months of homeschooling and staying indoors, it’s time to embark on summer adventures. However, balancing fun with safety is essential. Although restrictions have eased, the pandemic is not over, so adapting your travel habits is crucial. Here are some guidelines from the Academy of Allergy and Asthma in Primary Care to facilitate safe travel with children during this time.
- Children are naturally curious and often learn by touching. As a parent, try to view the environment through your child’s perspective. This can help you foresee the surfaces that might attract their interest.
- If your child is of an appropriate age, emphasize the importance of avoiding contact with items in public spaces.
- When on the road, steer clear of crowded areas. Simply put, higher foot traffic increases the likelihood of encountering contaminated surfaces and the risk of COVID-19.
- Incorporate regular handwashing intervals and utilize hand sanitizer after visiting shared spaces.
- Most importantly, model the behavior you want to instill. By demonstrating compliance with these guidelines, you can reduce your children’s anxiety related to COVID-19 and enhance their willingness to adopt these safety measures.
For families with members at increased risk, it is vital to enhance your safety protocols. Consulting your primary care provider can help you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of travel based on your specific circumstances, as they are familiar with your health needs.
- Limit your travel group to individuals you have been in close contact with during the past few months.
- Opt for car travel rather than mass transit options like airplanes, trains, and ships wherever possible.
- Steer clear of large gatherings.
- When visiting family, resist the urge to hug or kiss them.
- Minimize your family’s time in high-traffic communal spaces such as hotel lobbies and tourist attractions.
- Observe physical distancing measures and wear face coverings. Maintain a six-foot distance from others and limit close interactions to no more than six minutes.
Before each stop during your travels, strategize on the safest methods to engage with the environment to prioritize your health. Each family and journey is distinct, but these updated practices are vital to incorporate for the foreseeable future.
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ABOUT DR. DAVID REICHERT, CCRA:
President of the Academy of Allergy and Asthma in Primary Care, (AAAPC)
With over 35 years of experience in the healthcare sector, Dr. David Reichert has overseen research, development, and enhancement of healthcare products. Recently, he has specialized in Allergy and Immunology as well as the management of Allergies and Asthma. After managing the Allergy Immunotherapy Treatment Set division at ALK-Abelló, Dr. Reichert founded Acclaim Allergy Solutions in 2014, providing allergy immunotherapy options to practitioners across the United States. He remains active in several Allergy and Immunotherapy industry organizations, including the Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), and the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA), and he serves as President of the Board of Directors at the Academy of Allergy and Asthma in Primary Care (AAAPC).
About the AAAPC:
The Academy of Allergy and Asthma in Primary Care (AAAPC) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting innovative allergy and asthma care models within primary care, helping physicians broaden their roles to provide allergy diagnostics and therapy to underserved populations.
