Know Before You Go: Six Simple Travel Tips for a Healthy, Happy Summer
Black American travelers, a powerful segment of the leisure travel market, are excited to be ‘back outside’ this summer. And with travel on the minds of many, the Black Nurse Collaborative is encouraging travelers to make smart choices when it comes to protecting their health this summer season. Whether it’s traveling for a trip, sending children to summer camp or planning a simple staycation – protection from COVID-19 is still important to keep top of mind.
“At the end of the day, we all share a common goal of health and safety,” said Meedie Bardonille, registered nurse and founder of the Black Nurse Collaborative. “Simple practices while traveling, such as wearing a mask, regular testing, and staying updated on flu shots and COVID vaccines, have a major impact on everyone’s ability to achieve that goal.”
The Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended in May, but COVID remains a public health priority. Below are some “SMARTT” ways Black travelers can protect their health while traveling this summer:
- S: Sanitize – Sanitize when traveling on planes, trains and public transportation.
- M: Mask up – Consider masking up in busy airports, on planes and in crowded areas.
- A: Avoid people with symptoms: Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick or has COVID-19 symptoms.
- R: Remember to get your vaccination: If you haven’t already, remember to get your COVID-19 vaccination before traveling to help ensure you don’t get sick this summer. Vaccines remain free for most U.S. residents.
- T: Take the essentials: Make sure you take wipes, tissues, sanitizer, pain medication, a thermometer and your vaccination card. These are essential items for the savvy traveler.
- T: Travel Clinics are an untapped resource: Travel clinics are an often-untapped resource that can help travelers stay healthy while on the road or traveling abroad. These niche facilities are equipped with health professionals who can help with everything from vaccinations to at-risk areas in specific countries.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every community across the globe, but members of minority communities have been hit the hardest. In the United States, these communities have suffered from higher rates of infection and death due to limited access to health care resources and widespread misinformation.
Go to vaccines.gov or text your ZIP code to 438829 to find nearby places to get a vaccine. To search for health and travel restrictions, notices and vaccinations, visit www.cdc.com.
About Black Nurse Collaborative
The Black Nurse Collaborative, Inc. (BNC) was founded with the purpose of bringing together nursing experts with varying skills and competencies with a willingness to be intentional about building and sustaining a network(s) to be used for promoting professional growth, entrepreneurship, addressing health equity, and the common uplift and elevation of its members and communities.The BNC aims to remove obstacles faced by Black nurses and create tangible support for its members to propel and excel in the nursing profession.
