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By Michele Howe.

VeniceladywithcartI like to travel. I like to anticipate what I’ll experience when I arrive.

New places. New people. New tastes, sights, and smells.

Love the whole “new” experience.

I also like to ensure I’ll be healthy wherever my foot steps…and that takes a special kind of planning.

Any trip takes a good amount of preparation, but there’s an equally important pre-trip planning that should take place before every trip we take — and that’s planning to travel healthy.

If you’re not sure what that type of planning looks like, read on for specific recommendations offered by a physician who understands how making wise medical decisions while on vacation is just part of taking care of yourself (and your family).

Dr. Christopher A. Foetisch, Toledo orthopedic surgeon writes —

When planning a trip away from home, the last thing a vacationer wants to contemplate is the possibility of becoming ill while away. By making a few in advance preparations, anyone can help to ensure their vacation will be optimally healthy and safe. Read below to be certain you’ve prepared a wellness “check list” for travels in the States and overseas.

Before you go:

• Take a list of all medications and known allergies.

• Include your primary care physician and pharmacy phone numbers.

• Keep all medications packed in your carry-on, not in checked luggage.

• If traveling for an extended time, be sure to bring a refill.

During travel:

• If you or a family member becomes ill, contact the hotel concierge or someone you know locally to find out where to go for medical care.

• A referral increases the odds of getting optimal treatment. Don’t simply go to the nearest (or most convenient) clinic or urgent care facility.

Special considerations:

• Those individuals prone to illness should consider travel health insurance before leaving.

• Medical evacuation insurance is particularly helpful for overseas travel and can be purchased for a reasonable fee.

• Refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention travel site for specific information/warnings regarding the country you are intending to visit.

Final Word:

Despite what we read in the news, the United States does have the best medical care in the world. So given the option, do your best to get back home to be treated. As the old saying goes, “There is no place like home” truly applies to health care.

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Michele Howe is a reviewer for Publishers Weekly, FaithfulReader.com, Retailers + Resources, Foreword Magazine, TeenReads.com, KidReads.com, among many others national and international publications. She has published over 3000 reviews/articles and has been featured on numerous radio shows across the country speaking on topics such as parenting and a diverse range of women's health issues. Her work has been published in MORE, FIRST for Women, Good Housekeeping, Christianity Today, Discipleship Journal, Midwest Living, Parentlife, Fullfill, Christian Single, Single Parent Family, Focus on the Family, PRISM, and Connections. She also does manuscript reviewing for several publishing houses including New Growth Press.

Michele is the author of twenty books for women. Her first book, "Going It Alone: Meeting the Challenges of Being a Single Mom" (Hendrickson Publishers), provided hope and practical helps for single moms new to parenting solo. She has also authored "Pilgrim Prayers for Single Mothers" (Pilgrim Press) and a third book of helps for single mothers titled, "Successful Single Moms" (Pilgrim Press.) In addition to these resources for single mothers, Michele wrote four separate titles combining real life stories with inspirational prayer retreats. These titles published by (Jossey-Bass) include: "Prayers for Homeschooling Moms," "Prayers to Nourish a Woman's Heart," "Prayers of Comfort and Strength" and "Prayers for New and Expecting Moms."

Her more recent books include a follow-up resource to "Going It Alone" titled, "Still Going It Alone: Mothering with Faith and Finesse Once the Children Have Grown" (Hendrickson Publishers) and "Burdens Do a Body Good: Meeting Life's Challenges with Strength and Soul" co-authored with orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Christopher A. Foetisch (Hendrickson Publishers).

One Size Fits All: Making Meaningful Choices, Stepping Into a Meaningful Life was released in early 2013 by Lighthouse of the Carolinas. Burden Lifters: Every Woman's Every Day Resource Kit for a Healthy, Happy Life was released by Bondfire Books in late 2013 and ACTA Publications released, "Faith, Friends, and Other Floatation Devices" which is a compilation of stories, quotes, and practical lifestyle recommendations for "staying afloat" during life's toughest times. Her newest book, Empty Nest, What's Next? Parenting Adult Children Without Losing Your Mind was published fall of 2015. In the fall of 2016, "Caring for Aging Parents: Lessons in Love, Loss, and Letting Go" was released by Hendrickson Publishers. Summer of 2017, her sequel to Empty Nest, What's Next? was published, Preparing, Adjusting, and Loving the Empty Nest. In 2018, There's a Reason They Call It Grandparenting and Navigating the Friendship Maze were released. In September 2018, Living Bravely: 52 Week Super Incredible Faith Devotional will also be published.

 

Read more of Michele's work at michelehowe.wordpress.com and contact Michele at: [email protected].

For more information, please visit michelehowe.wordpress.com

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