Play it safe during spring break

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Seth Teague
  • 82nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  With the spring-break season fast approaching, the Sheppard Air Force Base Public Health office would like to give a few helpful tips before members depart for vacation. These tips on phone safety, driving fatigue, food safety, immunizations, heat and cold safety and travel warnings should be remembered to help keep travelers and their families safe.

Phone Safety

There are more than 6 million motor vehicle accidents in the United States that kill more than 40,000 people each year. Avoid texting or talking on the phone while driving. If needing to use a phone pull over to a rest area, let a passenger answer the phone or use a hands-free device. Cell phones are a major cause of automobile accidents.

Driving Fatigue

Make sure to get plenty of rest before taking trips. Take numerous breaks if traveling on a long distance trip. If starting to feel tired, pull over at a safe distance from the road or at a rest stop to take a nap.

Food Safety

Cook food to an appropriate temperature. Remember the phrase "keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold." Avoid cross contamination of foods. Don't place raw food on a surface where prepared food has been placed, and wash countertops where raw food has been handled. Lastly, hand washing is the most effective method of preventing food borne illness.

Immunizations

Immunizations are especially important when traveling outside of the country. They can prevent sickness while vacationing and prevent the spread of disease back into the country. Stay current on routine vaccinations and find out if additional vaccines are needed before leaving the country. The CDC website is a great resource to use to find out which vaccines are needed for traveling to different countries. Visit the CDC website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.aspx.

Heat and Cold Safety

Dress appropriately for weather conditions. Make sure adequate clothing is available, and dress in layers if in an area with extreme temperature changes. If spending a prolonged period out in the sun be sure to use sunscreen to prevent skin cancer.

Travel Warnings

Travel warnings are issued when conditions make a country dangerous or unstable. They are also issued when the U.S. government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff. Before traveling outside of the country, visit the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov/ to review information on the country you are traveling to. If the country is not listed, it is still important to have situational awareness.

Remember these tips to help stay safe while vacationing. For additional information including prevention tips, contact the Public Health office at (940) 676-3052.