This post is part of a paid partnership with Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® antiseptic.
As we continue to hop into our cars to experience the great American road trip, health and safety are top of mind, especially if you have kids. While tips for road trips run from getting your tires checked, to stocking up on batteries for a flashlight, what we are concerned about is healthy travel.
From the foods you eat to the products you use before you even leave the house and pack up for your journey along the open road, these road trip tips will keep you trucking along the open highway to see bizarre attractions across the country.
Table of Contents
Wash Your Hands
Yes, this seems like a no brainer, but according to some studies (even the CDC), more than 50% of people don’t wash their hands after entering a restroom.
Don’t be that person.
Every time you use the toilet (or even touch anything in a restroom, even at home) after hitting the road and before you eat, don’t forget to wash your hands. You touch a lot of stuff and all of that can go on your skin, and into your nose and mouth throughout the day.
Protect your nose
Did you know that people touch their nose on average 100 times a day? Your nose is a receptacle for infectious germs coming in and out of your body.
Just watch your kids for two minutes and you will see what I mean. They can’t keep their hands off their face (or out of their noses).
By sanitizing your nose with Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® antiseptic (available in a bottle or POPswab® ampule) you can protect almost everyone in your home (OK to use on kids 2 years old and up with supervision). It is the #1 patented product for daily nasal decolonization, proven to kill 99.99% of germs and works for up to 12 hours after application to help keep you protected.
So, yes, for your kids who still put their fingers in their noses, at least now you have a little protection from all those germs that can get up there.
Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® antiseptic is an over-the-counter topical solution containing alcohol as the key ingredient and broad-spectrum antiseptic trusted by hundreds of hospitals nationwide.
And if we have learned nothing else this year, we do know that a sanitizer with alcohol is key to killing all of those nasty germs you will encounter as you explore and travel across the country, whether to see grandma or a new (to you) national park with kids.
Stock up on Nozin.com right now for your next trip
Wear a Mask
Yes, you may need to wear a mask in your destination. Always pack extra masks too.
Even when face masks aren’t mandated, check store and restaurant signs for restrictions. If you are feeling under the weather along your journey, definitely wear a mask no matter where you are in the world to avoid spreading your germs to others.
You touch your face a lot. When you have a face mask on during a road trip, you will be putting your mask on and off a lot throughout the day as you stop at attractions, gas stations and restaurants. Having extra masks on hand will give you options when you want to switch out a mask, don’t have a place to wash your mask each night.
And let’s be honest, face masks are the new accessory we all love to show off. I just got a panda-pattern face mask!
Clean Your Electronics
You know that phone you touch all day long, hold up to your ear and pass over to your kids and friends to share photos? It is covered in germs. Grab a few electronic wipes to clean your phone, laptop and tablets. Do it regularly.
Allow your device to air dry after wiping it down whenever possible. If you grab a towel to dry it off, and that towel isn’t fresh from the dryer, you may just be adding more germs back onto your phone.
Pack Hand Sanitizer
When you are touching your face, doors, tabletops and sink faucets every day, you will want to make sure you have some extra hand sanitizer with you.
I keep a small bottle in my purse, and every passenger and driver-side door has a bottle of hand sanitizer that my kids know they have to use when they get back in the car.
It may be overkill, but it makes us feel a bit better when we are making multiple stops on a car trip.
Public Toilet Routine
Yes, you need to have a game plan when you head into a public toilet. We get in and out as quickly as possible, trying not to touch too much, always washing our hands, never touching our faces and using hand sanitizer before we get back in the car.
Quick do’s and don’ts when using public restrooms
- Do wash your hands.
- Don’t use the hand dryers (it just spreads around germs).
- Do use a clean towel or your elbow to open doors.
- Don’t throw any of your trash (wipes, disposable masks, cotton swabs, etc.) on the ground.
- Do sing the ABC or Happy Birthday song as you wash your hands to get all those germs away with warm, soapy water.
- Don’t be afraid to leave a restroom if it looks questionable (I’ve done it a lot).
Wipe down your doors and steering wheel
Yes, it may feel excessive, but after your kids have touched everything in the store and you grab their hand to walk through the parking lot, you should disinfect your car a little bit.
I always get my car cleaned before and after a trip, but carry car wipes as well to disinfect along the way. A canister of Armor All Cleaning Wipes thrown into your glove compartment or side door pocket will do the trick. Plus, wipes made specifically for cars won’t damage your vehicle.
We should all be cleaning the interior of our cars more often anyway. Your leather seats and steering wheel will thank you for giving them a little extra love.
Load up on Vitamin-Rich Foods
As much as I love a Snickers bar, better road trip snacks include apples, berries, carrots and sugar snap peas as a source of vitamins that can keep my body healthy as we travel.
While I do let the boys have a few “junk food” snacks, we try to pack a variety of nuts, fruit leather and granola in the car when we road trip. If we pass a farmer’s market or grocery store, I’ll load up on grapes, cherries and other seasonal goodies that won’t make too much of a mess.
Stay Hydrated
When it comes to drinking water on a road trip, my rule of thumb is two full reusable bottles per person. We can refill them at night, add ice from a hotel ice machine and avoid buying more plastic or using rest stop water fountains, which carry a host of germs.
Even better, grab a few NUUN tablets to add some flavor and extra vitamins to your water. My favorite is the blueberry pomegranate, but my husband likes the lemon lime.
Bring your own food
Packing your own food can not only save money on a road trip, but you can control how many people touch your food.
As cold and flu season approaches, you don’t want a barista sneezing into your latte or a server adding biscuits to your breakfast plate without gloves on.
Buy as many snacks and road trip meal items before your trip. Even a small cooler bag can hold a lot of yogurt, cheese, salad, tuna and turkey sandwiches.
A larger cooler is even better for keeping drinks cold, fruit, vegetables and more meals if you have the space.
Don’t drive tired
Getting a good night’s sleep is always important, especially when you are on a road trip. The rule of thumb is to stop for 15 minutes every two hours that you drive, but not many of us actually make that often or for that long.
We are more likely to stop when we need to load up on gas or the kids have to use the toilet.
One way to stay alert is to actually get sleep at night. If you start to feel tired, pull over. Even if you think that extra coffee can keep you alert, you are not at your best when you are drowsy, meaning your reaction time slows down and accidents can happen.
To Camp or Not to Camp
Camping will obviously give you space from strangers and their germs. It can also help you control your environment.
The problem is, not all of us are campers. Like me. I don’t like to camp all that much. This mama loves her cozy bed and indoor plumbing!
However, camping does get you off the grid, away from people and a little more “clean” than you might feel at a hotel. Despite hotels stepping up their cleaning game (something we all wish they had done years ago), we felt pretty safe checking in and sleeping at most mid-range chain hotels on our trip to Medora, North Dakota this summer
Would I camp now? Yes, the boys almost have me convinced. It would take some of the health concerns out of the travel equation and anxiety about being near people for a bit at least.
Gas Stations
Gas stations can be one of the most stressful spots to stop when it comes to germs. After driving to North Dakota and back again (three days each way), we came to have a deep appreciation for the highway truck stop.
You know, those huge gas stations that advertise food, showers and coffee? Well, there are some really nice ones out there just off the interstate.
The cleanest bathrooms we found on our trip were in truck stop bathrooms. With McDonalds only doing drive-thru (our usual fast food potty break spot), these truck stops were a godsend.
It’s never too late to tweak your healthy habits
I still make my kids sanitize their nose every day, even after we got back from our road trip. They also got much better about washing their hands plus using hand sanitizer after we get back to the car, even when we are home.
Our healthy habits are always getting a tweak as we learn more about protecting ourselves from nasty germs. Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® antiseptic is definitely one we will continue to use throughout the summer, autumn (pumpkin picking!) and into the new year.
Cold and flu season is coming up quick; getting into a routine of healthy habits is essential.
This post is part of a paid partnership with Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® antiseptic. As always, my opinions are my own, when they aren’t you will be the first to know.
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