My posting that has received the most comments — comments often laced with skepticism — are my statements that:

In-flight dehydration is a myth; and
Feeding infants frequently during air travel is counterproductive and may make them uncomfortable.

Please see my answers to the skeptics.
In-flight dehydration is a myth!! It doesn’t exist. Yes, it is frequently repeated by […]

Posted in Travel No Comments »
Tags: Airplane, Dehydration, Travel

Visiting Mexico City: 7,550 feet. Viewing the Grand Canyon: 8,000 feet. Skiing in Colorado: 8,000 feet (with some slopes going higher.) Driving up Pike’s Peak: 14,000 feet. At these elevations most children run circles around their huffing and puffing parents. But some children will show symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS), and a rare child […]

Posted in Outdoor Recreation No Comments »
Tags: Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), Altitude, Aspirin, Asthma, Coughs, Dehydration, Fatigue, Frostbite, Headache, Hypothermia, Ibuprofen (Advil Motrin), Infants, Intestinal illnesses, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Respiratory infections, Seizure disorders, Sleep, Sore throat, Sun exposure, Toddlers, Vomiting

When you travel, drinking lots of water helps you stay fit - as long as the water is fit to drink. Being well hydrated helps counteract some of the vagaries of travel: fatigue and jet lag, altitude, and hot and cold environments, to mention a few. Minimal dehydration occurs even before you feel thirsty, subtly […]

Posted in Food & Water Precautions No Comments »
Tags: Airplane, Altitude, Cruise ships, Dehydration, Diabetes, Fatigue, Heart problems, Immune problems, Intestinal illnesses, Jet lag, Kidney problems, Pregnant, Third world

There is nothing novel about infants traveling by air. They have been doing so since time immemorial, long before adults. Legend has it that they were “delivered” by storks, and were never the worse for their trips. Of course, stork flights skimmed rooftops, eliminating concerns of high altitude and accompanying ear issues, dehydration, and excessive […]

Posted in Travel No Comments »
Tags: Airplane, Allergies, Altitude, Dehydration, Diabetes, Ear infections, Immune problems, Infants, Intestinal illnesses, Newborns, Pregnant, Respiratory infections

Savvy parents can manage most cases of intestinal diseases that occur away from home and recognize the rare case needing immediate medical attention.
Here’s how to be a savvy parent:
1. Do not treat intestinal illnesses with only clear or sugary liquids.
Vomiting and diarrhea eliminates vital nutrients from the body, mainly sodium and chloride (salt). Water, […]

Posted in Safe & Healthy Travel No Comments »
Tags: Dehydration, Diarrhea, Intestinal illnesses, Third world