The east coast of Australia is one of few places in the world that provides a picturesque road trip opportunity all year round – even in winter. However, nobody is immune to the coughs and colds that come with the changing season. Here, we break down our tips for staving off winter sickness on your road trip.
1. Prep a sick kit for your trip
There’s nothing worse than being struck down by an illness while you’re away from home comforts. Furthermore, having to splash out on different medicines all at once. Preparing and packing a sickness kit for your trip means that you can have your remedies on hand should a cold creep up on you or your follow passengers. Some items you should include are:
- Paracetamol.
- Vitamin C capsules.
- Hand sanitiser.
- Cough medicine.
- Tissues.
Another great idea is listing the numbers and locations of medical centres around stops on your road trip in case things turn for the worst.
2. Keep it covered
It’s no secret that cold and flu bacteria spreads like wildfire, especially in confined spaces. Unfortunately for road trippers, the enclosed nature of cars means that these bugs are often spread in and around the vehicle, infecting occupants. For this reason, it’s important to keep mouths covered when sneezing and coughing to slow the spread of bacteria.
3. Bring your own pillowcase
Whether you’re staying at camp sites or in and out of hotels, it’s always a good idea to take your own pillow or pillow case on the road. Not only does this bring a little bit of home between destinations, but means that you know exactly where and who has been handling the place you’re resting your head at night. As an added precaution, ensuring that all passengers have a designated pillow that’s theirs means you’re not running the risk of sharing bugs if one of the group has come under the weather.
4. Take breaks
One of the most important parts of road tripping is ensuring that your driver is taking plenty of breaks throughout the journey. This is particularly vital in the winter months when sickness strikes. A cold alone is enough to make a person feel fatigued, let alone someone who has been driving for hours. Don’t take these breaks as a hiccup, however. In fact, rest stops can be the perfect excuse for a roadside photo opportunity, or the chance to explore the streets of a sleepy small town. Who knows – you might find your new favourite cafe, or a hidden attraction.
That being said, it’s important that if you do find yourself feeling sick and fatigued on your trip, you take the chance to slow down and rest up. Whether this means shuffling your itinerary to get in some much needed sleep, or swapping out a long hike for a relaxing massage, allowing yourself to recover from your hectic travels slows the risk of burning out and feeling worse on your road trip.
5. Keep up with fluids
Part of being sick is feeling dehydrated. This is because colds often come with a temperature, so your body works harder to cool yourself down. Ensuring you’re keeping well hydrated with plenty of water or clear broth soups means that your body is getting the water it needs. Broths are particularly helpful on road trips. Easy to prepare and full of nutrients, a broth keeps well in a thermos and will give you sustenance even when you’re not feeling like stomaching a full meal.
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