Posted 3 years ago

Safe Travel for patients

Many people have been at home and forgoing travel for almost two years now due to COVID. However, as restrictions are changing and lifting all of the time, more and more people are beginning to plan vacations again. As a patient, whether in treatment or post treatment, you may be wondering…”Is it safe for me to travel?”

Here are a few tips to ensure safer travel.

  1. Sit down and plan your desired travel. How will you get to your destination? Where will you stay? What kind of transportation will you be using? It may be better to stay in one spot, rent your own car and consider vacation rentals rather than busy hotels. If you are staying with family, ensure you check in with them prior to arrival, to ensure everyone is healthy and well. Do not be afraid to set boundaries on physical contact or the use of facial masks
  2. Talk to your doctor and medical team. They can advise you if you are well enough to travel. Not every patient and survivor are the same. We all have unique bodies and have responded differently to our treatments
  3. Research your destination and know where medical facilities are in case you have an emergency. It is also a good idea to check with your insurance to see if it covers non-emergency care outside of Arizona
  4. Come prepared with your own supplies. Bring hand sanitizer, extra facemasks and cleansing wipes. When your arrive at your destination, you or your travel mate should give the place a good wipe down. Make sure to cover all of the door handles, light switches, refrigerator, toilets and surfaces you will be in contact with
  5. Incorporate time to rest and recover each day of your trip. You will be using more energy and have excitement or travel then you may have had in quite some time. Your body needs time to rejuvenate and regain strength so you can enjoy your travels
  6. If you are a person who uses medical marijuana, check to see that it is legal in the place you are going. Just because it is legal in Arizona, does not mean it is legal in other places. It is also not legal federally at this time, so TSA and airport security may have concerns as they are federal agents. Consider leaving it at home for the trip
  7. Remember to eat and stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids and eat frequent, small meals if possible

 

If you are not cleared for safe travel just yet, consider some new things you can do at home to experience culture and variety in your life.

  • Rent a movie you have never seen before
  • Take a virtual tour of a museum. Museums across the world have created virtual tours. I recently toured the Guggenheim Museum in New York virtually. It was so interesting. There are museums across the world including Amsterdam. France, Berlin and England that are offering virtual tours. Here is a link to the top 12 museums internationally that are offering virtual tours https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
  • Try sneaking a peek on your favorite travel spots with available webcams. Several websites have webcams where you can see live feeds of your favorite destinations: Trevi Fountain in Rome, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or maybe a watering hole in Africa where you can catch a glimpse of elephants taking a drink. Here are two safe websites where you can see animals, people and historic sites all over the planet https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam.html and explore.org

Social Work is a part of your Supportive Care Services team here at Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers. We have a variety of educational and supportive content, resources and groups available to you. Contact our department by calling 480-314-6660 or by emailing SocialWork@ironwoodcrc.com to connect with one of your Social Workers.