Several years ago, my grandpa and his wife left their home in Arizona to summer in Vancouver. That’s pretty darn far away from where my family lives here in Chicago. When my grandfather got a scrape on his head, he figured it would heal on its own and didn’t treat it. A week later, my dad took an emergency trip up to Canada because Grandpa was in the hospital with a wicked infection. It was scary for a while—they feared the infection might spread to his blood.
It pretty much ruined the summer, but hasn’t stemmed my grandpa’s sense of adventure. He and his wife still like to flee the heat for far-flung spots. And they should! But now they’re a bit more cautious, and so goes the direction of my tale: If you, your parents or grandparents are setting off on a vacation, consider these tips:
- A personal first aid kit can help you tackle small scrapes and burns so they don’t become infected. You can find these virtually anywhere, but some nice, complete ones are here at the Red Cross stores.
- Elderly people are especially susceptible to heat and exhaustion. If you or someone you love is heading to a hot spot (literally) for vacation, keep cool. Here are some tips for adults to keep healthy during heat.
- Get certified in First Aid and CPR. From a broken bone to a heart attack, the unexpected can and does happen while people are traveling. Be ready to help, in case no one else can.
Now that you're feeling a little safer, hooray for people who are taking these vacations. Do you have a dream vacation planned for your retirement? Tell us about it in the comments!
Kristin Claes is the senior writer for the chapter. She wants to travel to San Sebastian, Spain, in retirement and never leave. Thanks to withoutyou for the image!
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