Traveling Tips for Asthma & Allergy Patients

Whether you are traveling by air, sea, or land, it’s imperative you take the proper precautions to prevent an asthma attack or an allergic reaction. Before your trip, it’s best to schedule a checkup with Stepping Stone Pediatrics to discuss your travel plans. Make sure to ask a medical professional about any special steps you can take to prevent your child from having a flair up. In the meantime, use the following tips to keep your child’s asthma and allergy symptoms in check while you are on vacation.

Hotel Accommodations

When booking your hotel, always choose a non-smoking room. Even if you are not actively smoking in the room, the remaining residue can be enough to trigger an allergic reaction or asthma attack. You should also book rooms away from the pool because the lingering smoke from cigarettes or open grills can drift up to your room and cause complications with your child. Request a non-pet room to reduce the amount of pet dander and other allergens circulating in the room.

You can take your precautions one step further by asking about allergy-friendly rooms. Many hotels now offer hypoallergenic pillow encasings, mattresses, and cleaning products that help to remove irritants and harmful allergens from the guestroom. If the room doesn’t have an air-purifier, it’s a great practice to carry one along to improve your child’s air quality.

Traveling by Car, Van, or Truck

If you are driving your own vehicle, ensure your cabin air filter is changed on a regular basis. The cabin air filter is designed to capture pollen, dirt, and dust from your vehicle’s HVAC system. However, the cabin filter’s ability to achieve these goals are greatly diminished if the filter is dirty. You can also give the inside of your vehicle a thorough cleaning before your trip.

Since most plants release their pollen at sunrise, it’s best to travel during the early morning or late evening hours. During these hours, the air quality is better and traffic is lighter, which means less smog and vehicle emissions. In either case, you should always use your air conditioning on recycle, so the outside air doesn’t come in.

Traveling by Trains and Planes

Airports and train stations are loaded with bacteria and other harmful particles. If you or your child has food allergies, ask for special accommodations when you make your reservations and when you board. If the plane or train doesn’t offer allergen-free meals, you should pack your own.

Before your trip, make sure your child has sufficient medicine refills on hand. Always pack emergency epinephrine auto-injectors and bronchodilator inhalers in your carry-on luggage. Keep these medicines on you instead of storing them in the overhead bin. You should also make sure your child drinks plenty of water because the dry air on planes and trains can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms. If other passengers have pets, request seating as far away from them as possible.

Contact Stepping Stone Pediatrics in Kennesaw/Acworth

Allergic reactions and asthma flares can happen without warning, which can add stress to a time meant for relaxation. The best defense against the unexpected is preparation. Make sure you take all of the necessary steps to ensure you are prepared, and your child is safe.

Contact Stepping Stone Pediatrics today by calling 770-515-9000 for more traveling tips for asthma and allergy patients.

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