Our first traveling responsibly post offered some tips on how to safely share the road with riders . This video from YouTube offers another valuable reminder: we don’t always see what’s in front of us because we only see what we are looking for. If you are driving down the road looking for a street sign, you might not see the person riding his bike directly in front of you. Take time to check yourself and your surroundings, what’s in front of you, behind you, and in the periphery. Keep your eyes on the road and off of your mobile device. Driving safely means more than just protecting the passengers in your car.
Archive for October, 2009
Traveling Responsibly: Test Your Awareness
Friday, October 30th, 2009 by Moira Bishop
Fitbit Won’t Fit New Year’s Resolutions
Thursday, October 29th, 2009 by Andy Orr
Either Fitbit has a runaway hit on their hands, or they have run into production problems. With no updates on their blog since September, we are left wondering why the shipping date for new orders keeps slipping. Last week their site had mid-December as the ship date for new orders; today it says January 31st. I am afraid that without the Fitbit Tracker to help, most New Year’s resolutions will have been broken by the time this cool activity tracker arrives. Where is the openness that the blog used to display? Come on guys, give us a little insight into what is happening.
If you just can’t wait for the Fitbit and don’t mind not tracking your sleeping habits, check out DirectLife from Philips. It tracks all your movement throughout the day and once you upload the collected information to your computer, it will provide you with your activity patterns and give personalized advice and motivation. The product is available in the U.S. and the Netherlands and through tomorrow, it is available for only $79. This price includes the first four months of membership. The normal membership fee is $12.50/month.
Do you think this kind of tool will work for you?
Happiness Is a Sometime Thing—And We Can Prove It
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 by Moira Bishop
Maybe you chose your recent vacation destination based on the results of the happy planet index. And maybe, now that you’re on your way back to a sadder reality, you want to check and see how happy the rest of the nation is. Thanks to a new Facebook application that counts and graphs the words people use in their status updates, you can actually track this information in the Facebook Gross National Happiness index.
The program scans all Facebook profiles for status updates and counts selected positive and negative words. The word count and the time of the posts are analyzed to produce an index showing when people are at their happiest. The “when” of course correlates to a day of the week, a holiday or an event. And results vary. Plan ahead and use this information to attempt to ensure that you are always surrounded by as much happiness as possible. A happy traveler is a healthy traveler!
While you are on Facebook checking this out, visit the Healthy Travel Blog fan page!
Iraqis Lose Their Cool Over H1N1: Get the Facts Before You Do Too
Friday, October 23rd, 2009 by Moira BishopWhen the news broke that 2,500 schools in Iraq have been closed in response to H1N1 outbreaks, we couldn’t help thinking how susceptible we all are to headlines, sound bites and video clips. As H1N1 washes over the northern hemisphere, we have some friendly advice: Instead of just tuning into the news, tune into the facts via the resources that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has compiled. Flu.gov is a hype-free site full of valuable information and answers to your questions, such as “Can a cockroach carry the H1N1 virus?”
Naps in the Cockpit: Better Planned Than Spontaneous
Friday, October 23rd, 2009 by Moira Bishop
Though disturbing, Wednesday’s incident involving the Northwest Airlines flight that flew past its destination of Minneapolis, is not shocking. Passengers often wonder how pilots stay awake during their long flights and what kind of standards and regulations are enforced to make sure that they are getting the sleep required to fly safely.
This past summer, USA Today reported that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) does not require sleep disorder screening for those responsible for operating transportation vehicles such as planes, trains and subways. That’s despite the fact that drowsing at the controls has actually led to many tragic accidents. While in some cases the crew could simply be affected by lack of sleep and too much time spent at the controls, it would be comforting to travelers to know that someone is paying attention to the risks posed to all of us by pilots and engineers who may be suffering from sleep apnea that’s robbing them of the sleep they need.
One recommended solution is to allow naps in the cockpit. This initiative is currently being pushed by the domestic labor unions, because it can eliminate problems caused by lack of sleep by giving the pilots an opportunity to get the rest they need to be as aware and alert as they need to be. For years people have been touting the benefits of the “power nap” and some companies, like Nike, encourage them at work. So why not allow them in the cockpit?
Your Quest for Adventure, Part Two: Your Mind Is Ready and Willing, But Is Your Body?
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 by Maya Northen
In our first post, we discussed the plans you need to make and items that you need to bring in order to get the most out of your adventure trip. In addition to having the right clothing and equipment, it is equally necessary to be physically prepared for your adventure. Training for an active vacation is similar to training for any other test of physical endurance. Once you have a clear understanding of how rigorous your daily activities are going to be, you need to set a training schedule that will help you set benchmarks and meet your goals.
Start by being real. The excitement of your trip tends to give you a false sense of your own endurance. Imagining the trek might make for an exhilarating first training session, but will probably result in blisters, painful muscles, exhaustion and possible injury which could impact your training in the long run. It particularly holds true when you are ramping up an activity you often do at a low intensity (like walking). Consult with a trainer, ask an expert or use the internet to access one of the many sites available to help you set realistic short- and long-term goals.
Map out a plan and track your progress. Create a schedule that breaks down the necessary work you need to do each day, week and month leading up to your trip. These goals should gradually increase in intensity. Track your progress regularly. You can track your data using new technology like the Fitbit or you can track it on paper or online on one of the many websites dedicated to getting fit.
Practice on a variety of terrain and weather conditions. Be prepared for the possibility that you will have to contend with the elements on your trip: rain, wind, fog and uncomfortable temperatures. If you’re walking, biking or hiking, you never know if you’ll be going through grass, gravel, dirt or mud, so create training routes that include these surfaces and a variety of terrain.
Cross-train. Create at least one workout per week that does not focus on your core regimen. This allows you to keep building your cardiovascular strength while giving key muscles a bit of a break. Perhaps a trip to an aerobics or dance class or the local pool is in order. Swimming, for example, is a great counter balance to walking, biking and hiking. It is a non-impact activity that can actually help your joints and leg muscles recover from the stress they’ve been undergoing.
Stretch, stretch, stretch. This can’t be stressed enough. Tight muscles often lead to injury. Start your workout with a light five minute warm up and then stretch gently to prevent injury during the rest of your session. Stretch after your workout for flexibility; there are many easy stretches that you can perform anywhere. Yoga is a great way to keep limber and cross-train for those who are likely to be slack about stretching.
Train with the equipment and clothing you’ll be using on your trip. Though it is tempting, do not buy brand new footwear or clothing right before your trip. If not broken in, footwear can cause painful blisters and clothing could be uncomfortable or inhibitive.
Take some breaks. Give yourself at least one to two days each week from training and lower the intensity of your workouts the week before your trip. Doing your most intense workout right before your trip could result in muscle burnout and physical exhaustion for the start of your journey.
And while on your trip, remember to eat well, get adequate rest and stay hydrated!
Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One: Where I Met Montezuma
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 by John Wargo
I recently came across a post on Road Junky where the author recounts a valuable lesson taught by a local woman in Guatemala. Even though he had survived the local waters in several countries around the world, he refrained from sampling the Guatemalan brew. Thanks to his guide, he witnessed the path the water took on the way to the spigot and made a smart decision.
I wish I had read this post BEFORE I set out on vacation to Los Cabos, on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. Specifically, before I headed out to the restaurant recommended for its fish tacos and frittatas by a local fishing captain. The tacos were every little bit of heaven that he described, but later I endured a hellacious experience that still pains me to recall.
Montezuma’s Revenge, the Cairo Two-Step and my personal favorite the Thai-dal Wave are colloquial names for Traveler’s Diarrhea (TD). Each year, an estimated 10 million travelers develop TD. The primary source of infection is ingestion of contaminated food or water.
The dominant risk factor in developing TD is the travel destination. High-risk destinations include Central American countries, the Middle East, South East Asia and Africa. Young adults and individuals with weak immune systems are at higher-risk for contracting TD, and although it usually resolves itself within three to five days, for those who contract a serious infection, TD can be life-threatening.
Prevention Tips
- Maintain good hygiene and use only safe water for drinking and brushing teeth.
- Use only bottled water and avoid ice.
- Avoid raw fruits and vegetables unless peeled by the traveler.
If handled properly, well-cooked and packaged foods are usually safe. Eating raw or undercooked meat and seafood should be avoided. Dairy products, mayonnaise and cake or desert icing are associated with TD, as are foods or beverages purchased from street vendors or other establishments where unsanitary conditions are present.
With recent developments in technology, some resort destinations now have on-site water purification capabilities. It is wise to “know before you go,” so research whether tap water at hotels is considered safe.
If you are unlucky enough to become a victim, the most important thing to do is to keep yourself hydrated. There are many over-the-counter medicines available (Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, etc) to help with the symptoms, but don’t overuse them. If your symptoms do not resolve themselves within a few days, if the diarrhea is severe, bloody and/or accompanied by chills, or if you can’t maintain enough fluids in your system, find a doctor who will see you immediately. (And if you need help finding one, check out www.mpassport.com.)
H1N1: Do you have it?
Monday, October 19th, 2009 by Moira Bishop
Maybe your seasonal allergies are affecting you differently than they did last fall; maybe you’ve been sprayed with H1N1 via the coughs and sneezes of a germ-spreading co-worker; or maybe, you just don’t feel well. In an effort to help those who are concerned that they may be infected with H1N1, the Department of Health and Human Services has added an online self-evaluation to Flu.gov. This may be a better alternative than risking sitting next to someone who actually does have it (or some other contagious ailment) while sitting in your doctor’s waiting room.
In just a few questions, this Severity Assessment will let you know if you probably do or probably don’t have the flu and will offer you advice on getting further treatment.
Do you think this is an effective way of triaging flu victims?
Your Quest for Adventure, Part One: For Starters, Ask the Right Questions
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 by Maya Northen
Active travel comes in many forms: biking through Italy’s wine country, white water rafting in Costa Rica, hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro and everything in between. Despite the variation in intensity, these trips share a common bond. Whether you’re a novice or a virtual pro, you must adequately prepare for your adventure vacation or it’s likely to take its toll on both your body and your adventurous spirit.
You need to consider what types of activities you will be participating in and estimate how much time you will spend doing them. If you are creating a customized trip, tailor it to fit your needs and abilities. For instance, you can start off with easier routes and work your way up to the longest walk or the most difficult rapid. If you’re participating in a group tour for which the itinerary is predetermined, you (or better yet your travel planner) can contact the tour company to obtain these details. If you are going on a group trip, ask the organizer for answers to these important questions:
- What is the breakdown of distance and intensity each day? For tours that include walking, biking, hiking and the like, this includes both the mileage and the terrain (pavement vs. more “off road” as well as inclines vs. flat or downhill). For water activities such as rafting and kayaking, check on the level of rapids as well as the distance you will be going.
- What type of accommodations will you have each night? The quality of sleep and relaxation you get on your down time might be quite different if you’re camping out each night as compared to sleeping in a quality hotel or a nice B&B. Knowing this ahead of time can help you prepare mentally and practically in knowing what to bring.
- What will the temperatures be like at this time of year and what type of clothing and footwear will you need?
- Do you need any special equipment? If so do they favor specific brands or types? Where can you purchase these and what critical information do you need to know when choosing the one that best suits you?
- Are regular meals worked into the schedule, or do you need to bring your own snacks, meal replacement bars and water? Be sure to plan accordingly, you don’t want to be a burden to your fellow travelers because you failed to bring enough food and water to sustain yourself. How much water will you need? The general recommendation is 64 ounces a day. If you are active, you should drink even more, as suggested by Web MD.
Get the answers to these important questions. Then prepare and pack accordingly, and you’re bound to get the adventure you’re hoping for.
10/09/09 Update: Catching up on (not catching) H1N1
Friday, October 9th, 2009 by Moira Bishop
The H1N1 news this week provided some tech news, entertainment, and reassurance: Google is taking advantage of its view from the top of the world to map the global flu trends; the Dalai Lama has adopted the fist-bump; and according to recent reports, only a small number of people infected with H1N1 are getting really sick from it.
Google explores flu trends around the world.
Who’s on the “fist bump” bandwagon?
Most people who get H1N1 don’t require serious medical treatment.
What was your favorite story this week?
