Planning a Winter Getaway with the Kids

Building sandcastles on the beach as the sun glistens across a calm sea. Moonlight dinners on the terrace after the kids are tucked in. Discovering hidden caves, learning phrases in a new language and making friends with families from around the world.

The memories you create during a relaxing and fun-filled winter vacation with the kids will last a lifetime. In order to ensure those memories don’t include trips to the emergency room or days spent in a hotel room nursing your little ones back to health, consider a few simple ways to avoid problems before they happen.

First, find out if there are any health risks prevalent in the country you plan to visit. The vast geographic, cultural and social differences around the world are what makes traveling so exciting — but they can also include varied levels of safety, hygiene and medical care.

A good place to start is the Public Health Agency of Canada, which contains information on specific diseases, health conditions and any recent health-related warnings. Then, visit a travel health clinic to find out about any immunizations or preventive medications you may need. For example, there are medications that prevent malaria if you are going to be in a tropical or subtropical country. You might also be advised to bring along medication to combat diarrhea or allergic reactions. You can get these over the counter in Canada, but they might be hard to find in a foreign country. Also, make sure to visit the clinic six weeks before leaving as some immunizations take time to kick in.

Getting the right travel health insurance is another great preventive measure you can take to ensure a fun, worry-free vacation. Provincial health-care plans don’t always cover the costs that may come up if you or someone in your family gets sick or injured while on holiday. Contact your credit card company — most major ones will offer some travel health insurance — but keep in mind they may stipulate conditions such as requiring that you use their card to pay for your travel arrangements. Getting the right travel insurance will give you peace of mind, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday!

Once you’ve arrived, there are a few simple measures you can take to avoid health-related hassles before they arise. Be mindful of the heat and drink plenty of water throughout the day, don’t wait until you’re thirsty or feeling unwell! Dehydration can set in quickly. The same rule of thumb goes for sunscreen. Apply it in the morning and again throughout the day, whether you’re in direct sunlight or not.

Take all necessary precautions to ensure your food and water are safe. Contaminated food and beverages can transmit diseases, cause stomach upset and diarrhea. (Diarrhea is caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites in local food or water. It’s the most common health problem for travelers.) Consider following this rule: “Boil it, cook it, peel it or leave it!” Health officials also recommend avoiding salads and other uncooked food that may have been washed in local tap water, and drinks containing ice cubes. Drink only purified water that’s been boiled or disinfected with chlorine or iodine, or commercially bottled water in sealed containers.

These are only a few ideas and individual needs for caution may vary. Before you travel, contact your medical profession or contact the Government of Canada’s travel health safety line at 1-800-267-6788 or 613-944-6788, or by email at travel@international.gc.ca.

Bon Voyage!