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The holidays are a prime travel time for many American workers—our romantic notions of “home for the holidays” and “I’ll be home for Christmas” are founded in a national holiday habit. But after the holidays, you’ll want your employees back on the job in solid physical shape.
Give them these air travel tips to help make sure they travel safely and arrive back in the workplace in good health this holiday season. Suggestions for how to offer these tips include:
- As a brief instruction during a safety meeting,
- As a paper handout to leave in the break room or in employees’ company mailboxes, or
- As an electronic handout to e-mail to employees.
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Chronic medical conditions
Air travel is safer than most forms of ground transportation, but for travelers with health conditions, the issues of altitude, luggage restrictions, and enforced sitting for long periods can raise health concerns.
Make sure you arrive at your destination in good health, prepared to take care of yourself, by:
- Carrying your medications. Keep enough medication in your carry-on luggage not just for your time on the road but also for your entire trip—just in case your luggage is lost or misplaced. You may carry liquid medications in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces, and they need not be placed in a plastic bag, but tell your screener about your medications. You can ask that they not be X-rayed.
- Sticking to your schedule. Sometimes travel can disrupt medication schedules. If your medication schedule is of particular importance, talk to your doctor before your trip about how to deal with schedule changes.
- Keeping it in writing. If you have diabetes, epilepsy, or another medical condition that could leave you unexpectedly incapacitated, carry an alert card that will tell fellow travelers and flight attendants how best to assist you. Include your doctor’s telephone number and a list of your medications.
- Calling ahead about oxygen. If you, or a member of your party, will need oxygen in-flight, you have to call ahead. The airline will provide oxygen; you cannot carry your own because of federal regulations. Passengers needing oxygen must carry both a prescription and a doctor’s letter approving air travel. You may also need to fill out a specific form required by the airline.
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Airplane-induced issues
Flying itself can induce some medical issues, even in otherwise healthy travelers. Here are some problems you might encounter and what you can do about them:
- Ear pain. Changes in altitude can affect the pressure in your head, causing ear pain. If you know you typically suffer ear pain during flights, take a decongestant before boarding. On the plane, you can chew gum and swallow often to help relieve pressure.
- Blood clots. After a long flight, even healthy travelers can develop blood clots in their legs. To prevent clots, you can wear compression stockings on the plane, drink plenty of water, and take an occasional turn around the cabin during long flights.
The bends. If you’ll be scuba diving during your trip, be careful about scheduling your return flight. You should not fly for 12 to 24 hours after diving, or you could give yourself the bends (decompression sickness).