Fall Family Travel Tips from Travel Expert Pauline Frommer
Safety First!
Consider the Kids
Fuel Efficiency on the Road
Healthy Eats for the Road
Great Deals for the Fall
Outdoor Activities
Allergy Season
Weeds
Trees and Grasses
Molds
Ticks
Halloween Safety
Hurricanes
Floods
Fall Family Travel Tips from Travel Expert Pauline Frommer
Safety First!
| Tip: | Just in case...be sure to pack an updated and complete first aid kid, such as Johnson & Johnson's RED CROSS® Safe Travels™ First Aid Kit. You never know when you'll need a bandage or pain reliever. |
| Tip: | Always map your route before venturing out. Remember that GPS systems can be incorrect or outdated sometimes. |
| Tip: | Pack a spare tire and make sure to take your car for a tune-up if it has been a while-especially when planning a long trip. Being prepared can save you a lot of hassles on the road. |
| Tip: | Be wary of inclement weather -if you are flexible with your travel, depart when the weather is dry. X% of car accidents occur due to bad weather or rain. Visit a web site like WeatherToPrepare.com to check the weather in advance and get seasonal safety tips. |
Consider the Kids
| Tip: | Let your child plan part of the road trip activities. Let them pick some games to play in the car, DVD's to bring, fun places to stop along the way or even where to eat. They'll feel more invested in the vacation and guaranteed to stay occupied. |
| Tip: | Collect souvenirs along the way and have you child create a memory book. Collect everything from pressed flowers and maps to interesting rocks. This is a great way to pass the time in the care and will create the perfect memento of your trip. |
| Tip: | Be sure to allot some extra time for your kids to blow off steam. A few extra minutes at each rest stop can save a lot of headaches in the car. |
Fuel Efficiency on the Road
| Tip: | Avoid using a roof rack when possible, it creates a lot of extra wind drag. |
| Tip: | Pack lightly-utilizing smart packing techniques, such as the "roll method" can save you some valuable space and pounds. You'd be surprised how much those extra pairs of shoes can slow you down too! |
| Tip: | Use cruise control when possible. This will reduce the gas wasted in unnecessary starts and stops and might even keep you from getting a speeding ticket. |
| Tip: | Become a member of an automobile club. They can help you plan the shortest route possible and can help you calculate how much to budget for gas. |
| Tip: | If you're renting a car, consider a hybrid. Most major car rental places offer hybrid models that have much higher fuel efficiency ratings. |
Healthy Eats for the Road
| Tip: | Get off the interstate. Many mom and pop local restaurants offer healthier fare than the standard fast food places found at highway rest stops. |
| Tip: | Before your trip, check out some web sites that suggest some of the best local places to stop along the way. You can find some of the best crab shacks, BBQ joints or even vegetarian options, all near major interstates. |
Great Deals for the Fall
| Tip: | To have fun without breaking the bank, try picking off-season locations for your family's fall trip. XX and XX are great for the fall because they're still beautiful and the weather should cooperate, but they won't cost you an arm and a leg. |
Outdoor Activities
Football, hiking and soccer are just a few of the season's outdoor activities so it's important to be prepared for minor injuries that can occur.
| Tip: | Children AND adults should wear protective gear such as helmets and pads for outdoor activities like football, biking, rollerblading, street hockey or using a scooter or skateboard. |
| Tip: | A well-stocked First Aid kit is a must-have autumn accessory. An assortment of cleansing wipes, ointments and BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages are just the thing for those inevitable cuts and scrapes. |
| Tip: | Continue to wear sunscreen when outdoors. Depending on where you live, the autumn sun can still cause a burn. |
| Tip: | Use caution when walking or driving on wet leaves, as this slippery condition can lead to slips, falls and skids. |
Allergy Season
For fall allergy sufferers, an increase in symptoms can mean a decrease in work productivity and more missed days of work or school. Allergic rhinitis, or "hay fever," is triggered in early fall, when ragweed starts to pollinate, and it lasts through October, impacting not only individuals, but also the economy. People with allergic rhinitis miss 3.8 million days of work and school each year, according to "The Allergy Report" by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Weeds
Ragweed is the number one cause of fall hay fever symptoms in the United States. It is a weed that flourishes in most parts of the country with the heaviest concentrations being in the Midwest and central United States. Ragweed pollen can travel as far as 400 miles-so you may be affected by ragweed even though it does not grow nearby. Ragweed season ends after the first frost.
Trees and Grasses
There are some trees and grasses that pollinate in the fall. Some of the trees include cedar elm, Chinese elm, September elm, and eucalyptus. Fall allergenic grasses include pampas grass, fountain grass, and wild mustard.
Molds
Warm and humid conditions encourage mold growth. Outdoor molds become plentiful in the fall in gutters, soil, vegetation, rotting wood, and fallen leaves. Unlike pollens, molds may survive the first frost and most just become dormant until after the spring thaw, where they thrive on the vegetation that's been killed by the winter. Molds are also found inside the home. Attics, basements, bathrooms, kitchens, refrigerators, garbage containers, books, houseplants, carpets, and upholstery are sources of mold growth.
| Tip: | Pollen and mold spores are stirred up when vacuuming, mowing, or raking leaves so it is best to wear a facemask while doing these chores. |
| Tip: | After spending extended periods of time outdoors be sure to shower immediately to remove built up pollen from skin and hair. Clothing should also be laundered in hot water. |
| Tip: | Any outside activities should be planned after 10 a.m. if you are trying to avoid pollen. Pollen counts are highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. Also try to avoid outside activities on dry, windy days. |
| Tip: | If you are allergic to mold, plan activities in the mornings and evenings, avoiding afternoons when mold spores peak. |
| Tip: | Allergy sufferers should keep home and car windows closed to keep outdoor allergens from entering. An air conditioner should be used to cool the air, not window or attic fans. |
| Tip: | Avoid hanging sheets or clothing out to dry on a clothesline. Pollen can collect on these items. |
| Tip: | Avoid irritants that could aggravate your symptoms such as insect sprays, tobacco smoke, and air pollution. |
Ticks
Autumn camping, hiking or just raking leaves can increase your exposure to ticks. Although the prospect of contracting Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases is a concern, there is no need to avoid the woods or outdoors. You can still enjoy a healthy outdoor lifestyle as long as you know how to properly take preventative measures.
| Tip: | Wear enclosed shoes and light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily |
| Tip: | Scan clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors |
| Tip: | Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails |
| Tip: | Use insect repellant containing DEET (Diethyl-meta-toluamide) on skin or clothes if you intend to go off-trail or into overgrown areas |
| Tip: | Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls (havens for ticks and their hosts) |
| Tip: | Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening |
| Tip: | Do a final, full-body tick-check at the end of the day (also check children and pets) |
| Tip: | If you find a tick on your body, use the tweezers found in Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit Complete Care to fully remove it, as soon as possible. Contact your physician to determine if additional follow-up is necessary. |
Halloween Safety
Make your property as safe as possible for the season's little ghosts and goblins.
| Tip: | Leave a light on at the front door. Sweep your walkway clear of dead leaves or debris, which might cause your guests to slip. |
| Tip: | Remove hoses and sprinklers from the lawn - children don't always use the sidewalk. |
| Tip: | Use battery-powered lights instead of candles for jack-o'-lanterns. Keep your jack-o'- lantern clear of people's paths. |
Hurricanes
The Atlantic hurricane season is typically most active from late August through early October with September being the peak month. Hurricanes and tropical storms not only affect the coastline with heavy rain, high winds and storm surge, but can also produce dangerous flooding well inland. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
| Tip: | Know the hurricane risk in your area. For example, do you live in a potential flood zone? |
| Tip: | Learn safe routes inland. Keep car fueled and serviced. |
| Tip: | Identify where official shelters are located; know your community safety plan. |
| Tip: | Weather-guard your home. Trim trees and shrubbery; buy plywood or shutters to protect doors and windows; clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts. |
| Tip: | Tune into local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio for official bulletins on the storm's progress. |
| Tip: | Stock up on fresh water, canned goods, batteries and safety supplies. RED CROSS® Johnson & Johnson Ready Organized First Aid Kits have 170 essential items to treat minor cuts and scrapes that might result from flying debris. |
Floods
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States and occur many times throughout the year as a by-product of hurricanes. They can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states. However, not all floods are alike. Some develop slowly, over a period of days. Flash floods can quickly develop, sometimes in a matter of minutes and without any visible signs of rain. Every state is at risk. Here's what you need to know.
| Tip: | Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you reside in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. |
| Tip: | Familiarize yourself with the terms "Flood Watch" (Flooding is possible), "Flash Flood Watch" (Flash flooding is possible), "Flood Warning" (Flooding is occurring or will occur soon), and "Flash Flood Warning" (a flash flood is occurring, seek higher ground on foot immediately). |
| Tip: | If you live in an area susceptible to flooding, elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home. |
| Tip: | Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home. |
| Tip: | Seal walls in the basement with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage. |
| Tip: | Secure your home. Bring in outdoor furniture; move essential items to a floor above ground level. |
| Tip: | Frequently listen to local radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio for official bulletins on the flood's progress. |
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