How to Care for a Sick Child on Vacation

The vacation your family has looked forward to for so long is finally underway. Everyone's having a great time when all of a sudden one of the kids gets sick. Luckily, most childhood illnesses last 24 hours or less, so with a little flexibility, you may still enjoy the rest of your vacation. Follow these steps to care for a sick child on vacation.

Instructions

• 1

  Look at location when a child feels ill. If a child vomits during a car or boat ride, he might suffer from motion sickness, which children are prone to. Stop driving and allow a child to be still until he feels better. The best treatment for motion sickness is preventive. Motion sickness is worse on an empty stomach, so keep something in it. Offer soda crackers or gingersnap cookies. Limit reading or looking out the window. When dizziness strikes, ask your child to close her eyes. Try to distract her by singing a song or telling a story.

• 2

  Divide and conquer. If your vacation includes more than one adult and more than one child, have one adult stay with the sick child and allow the other adult to take the other children somewhere.

• 3

  Practice frequent hand washing. Many illnesses come from poor personal hygiene. Washing hands with warm soapy water combats many viruses and is a good habit for staying healthy. Carry around hand gel sanitizer when hand washing isn't always possible.

• 4

  Stop using all local water if your child suffers from vomiting or diarrhea while you're vacationing outside of the United States. Even if tourist bureaus say water is safe, water may be the cause. Buy bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth. Only drink things from bottles or cans without ice. Avoid unpasteurized milk and juices, fresh unpeeled fruits or greens and food from street vendors.

• 5

  Watch for signs of dehydration. Dehydration strikes children quickly. Dry mouth, sunken eyes and listlessness may indicate dehydration, which requires immediate medical attention.

• 6

  Find out if friends have a pediatrician who can see your child if he needs treatment. If you're not visiting friends, see if there is a children's hospital nearby. An emergency room of a children's hospital is always better than a regular emergency room.