The holiday season can be stressful enough before adding travel to the mix. Coordinating ground or air travel and planning accommodations, even if you’re simply staying with loved ones, is often just the beginning and health and safety concerns can fall by the wayside.

For example, the highest incidence rate of cardiac mortality for the entire year occurs between Christmas and New Year’s Day, according to the American Heart Association, and more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States.

If you’re among the 62% of Americans who plan to travel this holiday season, according to research conducted by IPX1031, consider these tips to protect your health and safety.

Plan Ahead

planning can help ensure you’re prepared to handle any unexpected challenges or delays when you depart. Check the weather before heading out – including at your destination – and travel around any anticipated storms. Leave early to account for potentially heavy traffic and plot your path in advance to ensure you’re aware of any road closures or construction, which can allow you to find alternate routes, if necessary, rather than trying to adjust on the fly.

Ensure Your Family is Up to Date on Vaccines

Routine vaccinations can help protect you from infectious diseases that can be easily spread when around a large group of people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the seasonal flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. Other vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccine or booster and measles vaccine, can help protect not only your health, but your loved ones as well.

Learn CPR

Only about 40% of people who suffer from cardiac arrest receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, from a bystander, according to the American Heart Association. However, immediate CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

Just in time for the holiday season, revamped Hands-Only CPR training kiosks, which provide an overview of Hands-Only CPR followed by a practice session and a 30-second test, are available in airports, hospitals and other locations around the country. With the help of a practice mannequin, the kiosks give feedback about the depth and rate of compression, as well as proper hand placement – factors that influence the effectiveness of CPR – and teaches the two simple steps:

1. Call 911
2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest of the individual experiencing cardiac arrest until help arrives

Many of the Hands-Only CPR kiosks, as well as the Hands-Only CPR campaign, are supported by Elevance Health Foundation. To find a kiosk along your travel path, visit heart.org/handsonlycpr.

Prepare Your Vehicle

Car trouble is a common culprit during holiday travel. To help avoid potential issues, have your vehicle checked before embarking on an extended trip. Check tires, the battery, headlights, windshield wipers and any other parts that may be adversely impacted by winter weather. Also ensure your vehicle is equipped with essentials like a spare tire or inflation kit, jack, jumper cables, blankets, a first aid kit and a flashlight in case of an emergency.

Pack a Health Kit

If you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, it may be difficult to quickly get a refill at your destination, so be sure to pack enough to last your entire trip, plus extras in case you encounter any travel delays. It may also be helpful to pack other essentials including hand sanitizer, a first-aid kit, cold medicine, aspirin and your health insurance card in case of any unexpected injuries or illnesses while on the road.

Keeping healthy during Christmas travel is one of the most essential things. Stay hydrated to fight dehydration, pack nutritious snacks, and make sure take ample sleep. Practice frequent hygiene, incorporate light exercises, and be mindful of your eating. Boost your immune system with a balanced diet and consider vitamin supplements. Manage stress through relaxation techniques. Safe travels and a Merry Christmas to all!

As Christmas approaches, merrymakers are preparing for festive travels. The joy of the season is absolutely amazing and infectious and it’s really crucial to take care of your and your loved ones’ health amidst the holiday travel. Whether you’re travelling abroad or going on a road trip, these health tips during Christmas travel will help you stay merry and healthy throughout your journey.

Here are some key things to keep in mind:

Keep hydrated: Hydration is the key! Travelling can be dehydrating as travellers mostly forget to drink water and it’s a fact. So make sure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after your journey. Carry a reusable water bottle and keep refilling it regularly.

Snack healthy: Avoid fast food and too sugary or salty snacks at any cost. Make sure you pack healthy snacks like nuts, seeds and fresh fruits to keep your tummy full during your travel. These are splendid on-the-go healthy and nutritious options.

Sleep: Travelling for festivals often hampers sleep patterns that can lead to irritation, tiredness and weakened immune systems. Therefore, make sure you take adequate rest (read sleep) before embarking on your journey. Maintain a sleep schedule throughout your travel.

Practice hygiene, carry sanitisers/masks: The railway stations, airports, and bus stops remain crowded during holiday season. These places are mostly unhygienic and full of germs so make sure you wash your hands frequently or keep them sanitised when washing isn’t possible. And COVID or no COVID, face mask is a must at these places!

Stay active: Long flights and car trips can lead to stiffness in the body, so make sure to practice your stretches and keep doing light exercises even while travelling. It will keep your blood flowing!

Mindful eating: Don’t overeat or eat just anything in the name of holiday because it’s easy to overindulge during the festival season. Mindful eating is essential during this time.

Carry supplements and essential medicines: Carry your vitamin supplements, especially vitamin C, to get away from germs! Also carry all your essential medicines if you have any chronic diseases, like blood pressure for diabetes.

Phuket and Koh Samui are certainly gems to check out, but sometimes you may prefer somewhere in Thailand more quiet, and less tourist-y. Check out these quiet islands in Thailand instead.

The glistening beaches, the deep blue sea, the welcoming hospitality — there are things in Thailand that just seem to take you back again and again. While the popular attractions are a great starting point for many, there are times you want to really have a bit of R&R, far away from the crowds and the noise of the mainstream. You want something lowkey, something that feels local, and not just fire shows and random shots from girls with henna tattoos.

Why not check out some of the more quiet islands in Thailand for a change and get away from it all? Here’s a handy guide.

Quiet islands in Thailand you may not have heard about

Koh Nom Sao

Located in Phang Nga Bay, Koh Nom Sao is made up of twin islands that got their names from resembling the shape of women’s chest from certain angles (we’re not joking). With a 500-meter long shallow reef and a gorgeous beach, it’s perfect for snorkelling and surrounding yourself with sealife or just cracking open a book on the beach which is normally not busy at all.

Koh Kradan

Koh Kradan is known as one of the most beautiful islands in Trang, and it doesn’t get as much attention as it should, due to its remote location. The conservation efforts here keep the water pristine and the vibes not tourist-centric. For the full experience, allocate three hours of your day so you can kayak around the island.

Koh Phayam

This remote sanctuary is a short ride away from Ranong. Most of the community makes its living with plantations and coastal fishery, and is very welcoming to those who want to get more in touch with local culture. The sandy white beaches are far away from the crowds, and the bay on the East is perfect for watching the sun set. Even though it’s quite a large island, there are plenty of bicycle rental shops and motorcycle taxis, so sightseeing around the island is easily arranged.

Koh Tarutao

Koh Tarutao is considered one of the most unspoiled islands of the Andaman, located a short boat ride away from Satun province. Between 1938 and 1948, the island was used as a prison to hold political prisoners and other criminals. Now, it’s part of Tarutao National Park, Thailand’s first marine national park that was recognised by UNESCO as an ASEAN Heritage Park and Reserve. Since it’s a national park, there are no hotels on the island, but you can find allocated camp sites, or simply live along the Satun coast and make this island a day trip.

Koh Muk

Translating to “Pearl Island,” Koh Muk has one attraction that you cannot miss at all cost: the Emerald Cave. On a boat, you must float along the waters of the cave in complete darkness for about 80 metres in order to get to the other side. But once you make it through, you’ll see how the sunlight reflects on the cave water, causing the water in the beautiful lagoon inside, which is surrounded by white, glimmering sand, to shimmer an emerald green in colour. You also have the option to swim inside, if that’s your thing. It’s quite a unique experience, and is annually closed from June to September to let the nature inside heal.

Koh Sukon

If you want a lowkey experience as you surround yourself with the essence of the local community, Koh Sukon is the perfect quiet island to be at. All year long, you’ll get to walk along rice paddies, fisheries, children collecting shells, people planting rubber, and more. Other than that, it is fantastically quiet, and you can really feel rested and relaxed for as long as you choose to stay. Trang is famous for its delicious watermelons in the Summer, so grab one if you happen to be around during that season.

Koh Wai

Located South of Koh Chang, Koh Wai is home to beautiful coral reefs and clear blue waters. The island is very small in size; only 3km in length and 1km wide. As the middle part is largely covered by a forest, Koh Wai is a lovely place to go sightseeing and bird-watching, as the more rugged West side serves as a nesting ground for birds. There are bungalows if you plan on staying the night, but many choose to make it a day trip and stay on the mainland instead.

Koh Jum

The gorgeous Krabi province normally has travellers flocking to Phi Phi and Lanta islands, and the beautiful Koh Jum is overlooked by many. Each beach is easily reachable via scooter (rentals can be found on the island), and a few beach bars that make watching the sunset all the better. Even in high seasons, you’ll have the beach mostly to yourself — it’s certainly a big contender for one of the best quiet islands in Thailand. You can also go for a jungle hike and visit villages on the island, which are filled with very welcoming locals.

The all-important airport outfit is cute and comfy, but there’s another priority you might not think of: how practical it is for customs. ‘Cos no one likes getting held up at security when they could be tucking into a pre-flight meal.

Here are the six no-gos for your airport outfit if you want an easy journey.

1. Oversized fashion

Sure, maxi dresses and skirts, loose jackets, trousers and hoodies are comfortable, especially for long-haul flights. However, they can lead to longer checks by security, as they make it easier to hide stuff. Oversized jumpers often have to be taken before you go through a scanner, which can take up valuable time if you’re in a hurry.

Try: Either stow your big jumper in your hand luggage and take it out on the plane, or wear sweaters, tops and pants with an elastic waistband or a high stretch content that are comfortable but relatively close-fitting.

2. Shoes with metal details, thick soles and laces

At most airports, security are strict about shoes – especially styles with chunky soles that could theoretically hide items, or high-top sneakers that cover the ankle. Metal details such as studs or buckles also often set off the alarm. You’d generally be asked to take these shoes off and we all know what an effort that is, especially if they’re lace-ups.

Try: Simple loafers, ballerinas, espadrilles or slip-on trainers without laces are much faster to put on and take off. Best case scenario: you don’t even have to take them off, just have the soles checked after the detector walk-through.

3. Too many hair accessories

It’s best to leave elaborate hairdos for home time. A style with lots of clips or a barrette can set off the detectors at the security check and you might have to spend lots of time removing them.

Try: Keep your hair down or in a loose ponytail.

4. Clothes with lots of pockets or detailing

With plenty of pockets for your essentials, army and cargo pants are practical for travelling – but less suitable for flying: the zips and metal details might set off the alarm and it’s easy to forget to remove all items (e.g. lighters) from the pockets.

Try: Sweat or track pants which are comfortable, but have fewer pockets and details.

5. Lots of jewellery

Do you love statement pieces? Sorry, but you should go without them when you travel by plane. Rings, necklaces, bracelets and large earrings made of silver, gold or other metals set off the alarms at the security check and then (you guessed it) you’ll have to remove them.

Tip: If you don’t want to ditch your jewellery for the journey, then stick to non-metal accessories. Otherwise, simply stash your jewellery in a pouch and put it on at your destination.

6. A lot of perfume

Admittedly, this tip won’t really save you any time, but could save you a literal headache. When long queues form at security during holiday season, the air can get stale. If several different fragrances are mixing, you might start feeling unwell – and the line as well as the flight can quickly become an ordeal.

Try: Pack a small sample of your favourite fragrance and then spray yourself after you land. It’ll also help you feel fresher after a long flight.