For anyone experiencing wanderlust after being cooped up over the holidays, a winter road trip can be a safe way to scratch that travel itch, even during the pandemic. Before you head out, though, check the COVID-19 risk level along your route and review the AAA COVID-19 travel restrictions map. And no matter the number of days or distance of your road trip, be sure you – and your car – are ready to drive in the snow.

Driving anywhere in the cold weather and winter months requires special considerations. We spoke with Elizabeth Carey from AAA Western and Central New York to find out her best tips for cold weather road trips.

1. Know before you go

Before anything else, it’s important to know where you’re going. Are you heading into an area that’s prone to lake effect snow? What’s the weather forecast during your trip? Check the National Weather Service website for area road conditions, including regional winter weather advisories and storm watches, and download a good weather app to make sure you’re prepared.

2. Test your car’s battery

Nothing’s worse than the car not starting when everyone’s ready to go. If your engine’s slow to start, the lights dim when starting, or the car battery’s simply old, you may need a new one. Most car batteries last three to five years, so if your battery is more than three years old, get it checked before a cold weather road trip. A mechanic can easily test the battery and charging system. Make sure the battery terminals and cable ends are free from corrosion and the connections are tight. Finally, make sure you have jumper cables on hand and know how to use them.

3. Check your lights

It gets dark early on a winter road trip, so be sure that your headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers are all working. Replace any burnt-out bulbs before hitting the road, and throw in a working flashlight in your glove compartment while you’re at it.

4. Measure air pressure in your tires

Tires are probably the single most important part of safe winter driving. Make sure all four tires have the proper tread for the best traction while driving in potentially snowy conditions. If you live in (or are heading to) an area with heavy winter weather, snow tires will provide the best traction. Regular, all-season tires work well in light to moderate snow conditions, too, provided they have enough tread.

AAA recommends replacing any tire whose tread is worn to 2/32 of an inch or less. One way to tell is to place a penny in the tread; if you see all of Lincoln’s head, the tire needs to be replaced. Don’t forget to make sure your tires are properly inflated, too. As the temperature drops, so does the tire pressure, typically one PSI for every 10 degrees. Underinflated tires can affect braking distance, steering, and handling. Look for the proper tire pressure in your owner’s manual or the tire information sticker in the driver’s door jamb.

5. Check your wiper blades and fluid levels

Make sure your wiper blades can clear your windshield, and replace any blade that leaves streaks or misses spots. Fill-up the windshield washer reservoir with fluid that won’t freeze when the temperature drops. Winter deicer fluids are formulated to prevent the solution from freezing, and also contains chemicals that melt ice and frost. Don’t forget the engine coolant/antifreeze when checking fluid levels as well. Antifreeze lowers the freezing point of the engine’s liquid coolant system preventing the car from overheating.

6. Pack your winter gear, but don’t wear it while driving

Make sure you have coats, scarves, gloves, boots and hats with you, but keep them separate while driving. The bulky coats limit arm movements, gloves decrease sensing steering wheel feedback, and large boots can interfere with the pedals. For infants in child seats, those puffy winter coats can cause car seat restraints to not fit securely. Pack the winter gear close at hand, but save the layers for the outdoors.

7. Stock an emergency kit

Don’t leave home without a proper car emergency kit that includes some basic items like a first aid kit, snacks (for both humans and any pets), ice scraper with brush, basic tools (screwdrivers, pliers, wrench), warning flares, cloths or paper towels, some drinking water, and an emergency blanket in case you find yourself stranded in some bad winter weather.

8. Give your car a checkup

Before any major winter road trip, AAA recommends taking your vehicle to a mechanic for a thorough checkup of the brakes, drive belts, engine hoses, and all fluids (transmission, brake, and power steering).

9. Keep emergency numbers handy

Make sure you have important phone numbers for emergency services programmed into your mobile device, and don’t forget to bring a car charger for your phone or tablet as well.

10. Use extra care when driving in the snow

If you’re out on your drive and get caught in a snow squall, don’t panic. Here are some basic tips for driving in the snow:

• Drive slowly and keep your speed down to account for decreased traction.
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly to avoid skids.
• Increase your following distance to five or six seconds to account for the longer distance needed to stop.
• When braking, keep your heel on the floor and apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• If possible, don’t stop when driving up a hill, as it can be difficult to get moving again on an icy road. However, don’t power up hills either. Applying extra gas on the snow-covered roads will only make your wheels spin.
• Finally, make sure all the windows of your car are clear of snow.

11. Pack a shovel and sand (grit)

If you get stuck in the snow (or plowed in), you’ll be glad you packed a small shovel to dig yourself out. A bag of some sort of grit (sand, salt, cat litter) will help your tires grab on icy surfaces as well as give some extra weight in the back of the car.

Embrace the season with a safe winter road trip, and once you reach your destination, pull out that shovel and spend some time helping the kids build an epic snow fort.

Long TSA lines, unhealthy and overpriced food, running late, and dealing with checked luggage are just a few things that can cause stress when you are flying. Anyone who’s had a bad flight knows that it can leave you feeling tired and disheveled at the beginning or end of a vacation, and that’s never a good way to start. So what are the best tips for flying?

Whether you are flying home for the holidays or halfway across the world for an epic adventure, being prepared and organized are key to a good flight. In this guide, I share 10 travel tips for flying that will help you move smoothly through the airport, stay comfortable on your flight, and get you to your destination in one happy piece.

1. Invest in CLEAR or TSA PreCheck

My #1 tip for flying is if you fly at least 2-3 times per year, it is worth signing up for CLEAR or TSA PreCheck to save yourself some serious time. I got TSA PreCheck years ago, and I can’t believe how much more enjoyable flying is. You breeze through the security line, and you don’t have to remove your shoes, laptops, liquids, belts or sweaters. CLEAR is an annual membership while TSA PreCheck is good for 5 years once you are approved.

2. Pack Healthy Snacks

Almonds, apple slices, dried fruit, carrot sticks, and protein bars are just a few good examples of great snacks to hold you over when flying. Be sure to load up on protein and healthy fats since these will help keep you feeling full and satisfied. Packing snacks will also make it less likely that you will splurge on airport food, which is often unhealthy and overpriced. Plus, you won’t arrive at your destination starving.

Check out some of our favorite lightweight backpacking snacks that are plant-based and easy to throw in your carry-on for when you are feeling hangry mid-flight.

3. Bring a Sleep Kit

Landing at your destination well rested will help set your trip off to a great start. Whether you’re stuck in a middle seat, leaning against the cold hard window, or winging it on the aisle, bringing a few small items with you will make your flight much more comfortable. Invest in a comfy travel pillow or better yet, use a lightweight, packable backpacking pillow for flying.

While you’re at it, carry an eye mask and earplugs too – both are small, easy to carry, and may come in handy, especially if you are changing time zones or end up sitting next to a screaming baby. If you need something to drown out all noise, noise-canceling headphones or noise-canceling earbuds work great. They’re pricey, but worth it if you travel a lot.

4. Organize Your Backpack

Take time to organize your backpack, purse, or other carry-on before you leave home so you aren’t scrambling at the airport and lugging around more than you need to. Have a special compartment for important documents such as your boarding pass and ID so you’ll know exactly where to find them when you get to the front of the TSA line. Fanny packs are a great option for airport travel because they free your hands up and there’s no worry of forgetting your bag at the boarding gate if you keep the fanny pack secured around your waist.

Also take time to stock up on flying essentials like a book, your favorite magazine, snacks, and your sleeping kit BEFORE getting to the airport.

5. Download E-books, Music & Movies

WiFi onboard can be expensive and slow and not all routes offer in-flight entertainment. If you have a favorite tv show or a movie you’ve been wanting to watch, download it before boarding so you can watch it during your flight. Same goes for E-books and podcasts. If you have Netflix, you can download movies and shows on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop for offline viewing.

If you frequently travel with a friend, your partner or kids, you may want to consider getting a headphone splitter so you can watch together. I also have Spotify Premium which allows you to listen to your playlists when you are traveling and download them for offline use.

6. Charge Up your Devices before your Flight

Make sure to have everything charged before heading to the airport. This may include your phone, laptop, camera, and any other electronics you travel with. You never know if you’ll be able to find an open outlet or if security might take longer than usual leaving no time to charge up.

You may even want to consider carrying a small backup battery for your phone or other devices you use heavily when traveling. I also always bring a travel adapter that allows you to charge several devices and comes with worldwide adapters for those of you traveling abroad.

7. Pack a Reusable Water Bottle

You can’t take water through the security checkpoint, but you can take an empty reusable water bottle. Most airports have water fill-up stations so you can fill a bottle post-security. Drinking lots of water is an important tip for flying because the added elevation and recycled air can result in dehydration.

Having a refillable water bottle on your trip will also help you save money (and help the planet) by not having to purchase plastic water bottles every time you’re thirsty.

8. Take an Immune Supplement

When you fly, you are sharing oxygen with 100+ people, who have recently shared air with another 100+ people. Get the idea? Plus you touch items that a high volume of other people touch such as security bins, seatbelts, tray tables, and door handles. Give your body a boost to fight off the germs with an immune supplement. Nuun makes handy vitamin tablets with immune boosting properties that you can toss into your reusable water bottle. While you’re at it, pack some hand sanitizer too.

9. Dress in Layers

Plane temperatures can range from unbearably stuffy and hot to practically Arctic cold. Be prepared for both. Dress in a base layer that you’ll be comfortable hanging out in for the duration of your flight and bring an extra layer or two to wear on top.

I like to wear a tank-top as my bottom layer just in case there’s a tarmac delay without air circulation. A warm packable jacket, good socks, and a beanie are always helpful to pack in case your flight does end up being surprisingly cold, especially on those early morning flights.

10. Move on Your Layovers

Layovers are a great time to stretch, walk around, and do anything but sit to counteract all those hours on the plane. Be sure to locate your next gate and check to confirm your flight is on time before you take a stroll. You can keep an eye on your flight status on monitors located throughout the airport as you walk around. Believe it or not, some airports have indoor gardens, art displays, massage chairs, yoga rooms, and even movie theaters. Explore the airport to get your steps in. Your body will thank you later.

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden will mark World AIDS Day on Wednesday with a speech laying out his vision for ending the epidemic in the United States by 2030.

The White House said Biden will deliver a speech outlining the plan for “redoubling efforts to confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”

The target is for a 75 percent reduction in new infections by 2025 and 90 percent by 2030.

In the 40 years since US researchers encountered the first cases of what later became known as AIDS, there have been 700,000 US dead and more than 36 million fatalities worldwide.

Today, there are 1.2 million people in the US living with the disease, but “we celebrate the remarkable gains we have made,” the White House said in a briefing paper on the 2030 plan.

Between 2015 and 2019, new HIV infections fell eight percent, “a hopeful sign,” the White House said.

The shift Biden is ordering will aim to “aggressively reduce new HIV cases, while increasing access to treatment.”

According to a senior Biden administration official, one of the innovations will be to accelerate participation of the private sector in a “national effort.”

Focus will also be put on “addressing social determinants of health that influence an individual’s HIV risk or outcomes.”

According to the official, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic could ultimately strengthen the healthcare system in the even lengthier struggle against AIDS.

The response to the coronavirus has spurred advances in self-testing at home and telehealth, as well as boosting the role for pharmacies all ways to engage the public in a complex healthcare endeavor.

Top US infectious diseases specialists, including Biden’s lead medical advisor Anthony Fauci, brought years of experience from fighting AIDS to the Covid-19 crisis. Now, new lessons gained during the pandemic may be applied to AIDS.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what additional insights and knowledge and expertise researchers have gained through fighting this virus that can now be applied to our search for a vaccine and a cure for HIV,” the senior official said.

The United Nations said Monday that HIV infection rates are not slowing fast enough around the world to reach the goal of eradicating AIDS everywhere by 2030.