Pile into the car and let’s go! Wait. Before you gather the family and grab the keys, let’s run through a checklist to make sure you’ve got what you need for a successful trip. Whether you’re headed out for a beautiful summer afternoon ride or a multi-day trip, traveling with allergies requires a little extra preparation.
Autoinjectors at the Ready
This one should be part of your regular daily routine. If your allergist has prescribed them, two autoinjectors of epinephrine should be wherever your allergic family members are at all times, road tripping included. There are a few considerations, of course.
Parked cars can get hot (or really cold if we’re traveling in winter months!). Epinephrine doesn’t fare well in extreme temperatures. Your trip prep isn’t just about the drive itself. It’s also about what happens when you park and wander. Your autoinjectors should never be left in the car when you’re out exploring. Make sure that the medication is out and with you whenever you unbuckle and leave the car.
Cool Packs and Carry Bags?
Speaking of autoinjectors - if you’re going to be sitting on a beach or hiking on trails, consider dropping your autoinjectors in a bag designed to keep medication like insulin and other temperature-sensitive drugs not-too-cool-and-not-too-hot. You’ll find a wide range of price points and styles with a quick search online. Find one that fits your taste and the autoinjector your family uses.
Stocked up on Meds
If your allergist has included other medications beyond epinephrine as part of your allergy management plan, make sure you’re stocked and ready to go with them on your trip. From antihistamines to hydrocortisone, you should be able to administer any of the medications included in your allergy response plan even if you’re knee-deep in a wading pool or in line for a roller coaster.
Allergy Action Plan
You may think you’ve got your allergy response plan memorized – and you probably do – but you should still keep a printed copy of the plan outlined by your doctor in the case with the autoinjector. It should be clear and easy for a novice to follow so in the event of an emergency, anyone can scan the notes and respond accordingly.
Baby Wipes Ready to Go
Messy hands and common surfaces will need to be managed. When you want to ensure that you’re also mitigating the risk of traces of food allergens on surfaces, faces, and fingers, hand sanitizers are not helpful. The best way to wash up and keep allergens out of the picture is soap and water.
When you’re out on the road (or on the trails), that’s not always possible. In those spaces, good old fashioned baby wipes are the way to go. They’ll help remove trace levels of the proteins that can trigger a reaction when soap and water aren’t available. (You can read more on the subject here: FARE Hand Washing)
Stash of Allergy-Friendly Snacks
Car rides, particularly long ones, are made for the sort of snacks you don’t indulge in every day. Singing silly songs off-key, waving your fistful of Twizzlers as you go, is half of what makes a road trip worth taking. Do your research ahead of time and stock up on snacks that will keep your crew happy, satisfied, and safe.
Nix anything that will get melty and mushy in the heat. Bonus points for foods that won’t require you to use your stash of wipes to clean up the mess before you even roll out of the car at your first rest stop.
Know Before You Go
You’re reading labels. You’ve got your backup stash of safe foods at hand. You’re washing hands and not touching faces. You’re doing all the things you should do to keep your allergic family members safe. Odds are this is going to be a great trip without incident. It doesn’t hurt, however, to be prepared just in case.
As you are plotting your route and making your plans, look to see where the nearest emergency medical center is. Even though you’re doing what you need to do to not need to visit that facility, having an idea of where it is can give you peace of mind that in the event of an allergic reaction, you know where to head.
