Prevention and Common Sense Key to Spring Break Travel
Your bags are packed, your tickets are purchased and there’s nothing left to do but count down the days until vacation. But are you really as prepared as you think? Depending on your destination, you may need to get vaccinated or start medications before heading out the door.
As students and families across the area gear up for spring break travel, experts at Passport Health of Upstate New York, based at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, offer some tips for staying healthy and safe. Passport Health specializes in travel medicine, preparing people for trips with destination-specific travel information, immunizations, medications and specialty travel products.
“You really need to consider where you are going and what the conditions may be like there,” said Bill Russell, RN, MS, director of Passport Health of Upstate New York, which has offices in Rochester, Syracuse and Canandaigua. “It’s going to be a very different experience for a leisure traveler off to enjoy the beaches of Bali versus someone spending a week in Haiti doing humanitarian work. We can help folks prepare for either scenario. And there are some simple guidelines that can keep travelers healthy regardless of destination.”
Passport Health’s experienced staff can help travelers stay safe and healthy. Registered nurses will assess health history and individual needs based on itineraries; provide the latest information on health risks and safety based on real-time reports from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and other world surveillance organizations which monitor outbreaks; discuss precautionary measures for dietary and recreational activities; and administer and prescribe required immunizations and recommended medications.
“No matter the reason for traveling this spring and summer, people want to make the most of their trips. No one wants to end up sick or hurt. With a little planning and forethought, travelers can stay healthy and safe,” said Robin Drypolcher, R.N.C., B.A., assistant director of Passport Health of Upstate New York, Syracuse office.
To schedule an appointment at the Passport Health offices in Rochester and Canandaigua, call 585-275-8884. Call315-373-0643 to be seen in the Syracuse office. For more information on services offered, check out the Web site at www.passporthealthusa.com/rochester .
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