JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A lot of you may be counting down to spring break and celebrating a week of freedom!
Whether you're headed to the tropics or hitting the slopes, make sure you are protected and prepared while you're traveling.
Recommended Videos
Spring break is right around the corner for many of you and your traveler's check list should include a plan for staying healthy.
Do your homework ahead of time. The CDC says spring breakers can reduce the the risk of getting sick by first checking their website for a list of vaccines and health concerns in the country you may be traveling to.
If you're jetting off, make sure you stay hydrated on the plane and avoid too many sugary drinks. Deydration can strike at any time. During your trip, you may want to stick to bottled water.
"Water is the most common thing where you can get bacteria. It's really not viruses but when you drink water that's now properly sanitized. There's bacteria that's in the water so you want to be careful of that, " said Dr. Scot Ackerman with Ackerman Cancer Center.
Getting traveler's enteritis can put the breaks on any vacation. Make sure you steer clear of ice, fresh vegetable and fruits if you're traveling to a developing country.
If you plan to be out in the sun all day, pack plenty of sunscreen and remember to slather it on throughout the day.
"We don't realize how much sun exposure we're getting so make sure to wear sunscreen. It's very easy to get burnt very quickly without sunscreen. You're out a lot more," said Dr. Scot Ackerman with Ackerman Cancer Center.
Look for sunscreen with natural ingredients in them and an SPF of 15 or more. Dr. Ackerman says the best ones are those that contain zinc oxide.
The CDC reports that Zika is still a problem in many popular spring break locations throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. Make sure you protect yourself by packing bug spray with DEET or I-R 3535 as an ingredient.