SMOOTH SAILING WHERE YOU TRAVEL, STAY HEALTHY THROUGH TREATMENT, PREVENTION.

Byline: Linda Hutchinson Staff Writer

The only thing that puts more of a damper on summer fun than ants is illness. So as you make your vacation plans, don't forget to plan for the possibility of getting sick.

Whether boating, hiking, flying or driving, travelers are susceptible to all kinds of ailments - from a stomach ache to a sunburn; from motion sickness to a migraine.

``There's just a litany of things. Sometimes you wonder how any of us survives. I mean, we're all guilty,'' said Dr. Brian Terry of the Healthy Traveler medical clinic in Pasadena. ``We think the rules of life are suspended when we travel.''

So what do travelers forget most? ``Their common sense,'' said Terry. ``You travel somewhere; you make all these travel mistakes.''

You might swim more than you're used to and strain a muscle, drink water or food you should have passed up, spend too much time in the sun or drink excessive alcohol, he suggested.

Then there is plain bad luck. You catch the flu. You get a mammoth sliver. Traveling, in some ways, is just like regular life. Things happen. The experts' advice: Be prepared.

Jeff Goad, assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at USC, said the university travel clinic tailors recommendations after examining the patient's itinerary, travel history and medical history.

``If someone is going off the beaten path and doing adventure travel, there's a different set of recommendations than for the person who stays at a resort and does very touristy activities,'' Goad said. ``Your risk of acquiring a disease depends on your activities.''

Here are some trip-specific tips from our experts, including lists for travel first aid kits:

Road trips

Motion sickness medication, like Dramamine or Bonine; aspirin or aspirin substitute; sunscreen; antacid medicine (for all those fast-food stops); and an upset-stomach remedy, such as Pepto-Bismol. Better yet, just toss in the home first aid kit, complete with gauze, adhesive bandages and the like.

The most common road problem is probably motion sickness. Pack some 7-Up or Sprite and Saltine crackers to soothe upset stomachs and stop periodically. It's worth losing 20 minutes of road time to stretch, especially for those with a history of blood-clotting problems. It also helps kids with car sickness and the general wiggles.

Camping

Sunscreen, lip balm with sunscreen, bug repellent, aspirin or aspirin substitute, moleskin, adhesive bandages of various sizes, antibiotic ointment, elastic bandage and calamine lotion.

Before you hike, make sure your shoes fit properly. If you do get a blister, Dr. William Olsen, president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, recommends washing the area with soap and water, or alcohol. If the blister hasn't popped, gently work a sterilized needle into one side of the blister to drain it. Do not remove the flap of skin - it will act as a protective cover. Apply a little antibiotic ointment and cover it with either a bandage or moleskin.

As for poison oak, sumac and ivy, first and foremost, learn to identify it. But if you do inadvertently touch it, redness followed by itching will start 12 to 24 hours after contact. Then the red areas will begin to ``weep'' fluid on the surface of the skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 85 percent of people will develop an allergy to urushiol, which is the oil found in all three plants. The AAD recommends washing all exposed areas with cold running water immediately. Within 30 minutes, soap and water is helpful. Wash out clothes with soap and water, let them dry and pack them away for the remainder of your trip. Itch relief is best taken care of with calamine lotion or Burrow's solution.

Overseas air travel

Water treatment pack, such as iodine pills; diarrhea and upset-stomach medicines; bug repellent; home first aid kit; and any prescriptions medications along with copies of the prescriptions.

Most importantly, visit your doctor well ahead of your departure day to get needed immunizations. Some immunization series take 10 weeks to complete. Terry advised, first and foremost, making sure all the shots recommended for adults and children living in the United States are up to date. Then see which additional shots are required for the countries you're visiting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, www.cdc.gov/travel, provides information on health by destination, updates on outbreaks, vaccinations for each age group and tips on traveling with children.

Traveler's diarrhea is the most common complaint for travelers, Goad said. At the USC clinic, students receive an antibiotic treatment that they can take with them and are educated on symptoms and preventive measures, such as drinking bottled water and making sure food is well-cooked.

And if bugs bug you here, they can kill you in other parts of the world. Terry recommended finding out about possible biting insects and pack accordingly: bug repellent, the proper kind of clothing and quite possibly a mosquito net.

Cruises and boat trips

Motion-sickness medication as well as crackers, like Saltines, or crusty bread, like sourdough rolls. Often, it actually helps to have this in your stomach before you sail. Also: sunscreen, aspirin or aspirin substitute, UV-blocking sunglasses and a hat.

Cruise ships are generally less rough than smaller craft, but they certainly can offer enough motion to get you good and queasy. Lower ship decks toward the center of the vessel are the best places to be.

Also, fresh air and a view helps. Although it's difficult on cruise ships, avoid rich food during rough seas. For other cruise ship illnesses, there's an onboard crew of medical personnel, including a doctor. Find out where the infirmary is when you get onboard.

All travelers

Don't forget to pack the sunscreen.

Dr. Jose Dryjanski, an internist at Kaiser Permanente's Travel Medicine Clinic in Woodland Hills, always advises patients to be careful about protecting their skin. Vacation time often translates to more time in the peak sun hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., he said.

``If they have to go out, they should wear wide-brimmed hats,'' he said. ``Apply enough sunscreen to avoid sunburn.''

It's also good to take something to soothe a sunburn, such as aloe vera gel.

To prevent athlete's foot, take along a pair of flip-flops to wear on the beach and in the shower. Eyedrops and allergy medication will help you cope with different pollens and pollution in the air.

Lastly, stay hydrated. You're on the move more while traveling - carrying bags, shuttling from place to place. Check in guide books before you leave about water safety in the locations you're visiting. If avoiding tap water is advised, remember also to avoid ice cubes. If you really get into a water bind, boiling water is a reliable method to treat water. Otherwise use the iodine pills.

Staff Writer Mariko Thompson contributed to this story.

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Experts offer tips for healthy traveling this summer

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