Air pollution is a real threat to our health yet we breathe in it on our everyday lives. Lots of people die from it annually. Unhealthy air sometimes is hard to avoid especially when we live in such a big and crowd city. Not to mention that when we visit certain countries, we don’t really know the level of air pollution there but we still go to get that travel experience we have been dreaming of. Short term effects of breathing unhealthy include dizziness, breathing difficulties, and sore eyes.
Taking proper precautions from unhealthy air when travelling
Regardless of your purpose of travel, here are some precautions you can take to protect yourself from air pollution:
Check the air quality of your destination in advance
Today, it is not hard to find almost any information you need including air quality of a city. There are many factors that make certain place has higher air pollution than others such as burning season, dust from desert, etc. Hence, it is best to find out more about your destination and its air quality prior the trip. At least, you can avoid visiting during annual peaks.
Always bring masks
It is not enough for you to bring only one mask for your entire trip. You need to pack at least two or more. Make sure to choose the right mask as well. You can buy it online with good quality. At least, choose masks N95 to make sure it is certified to do the job of protecting you. Today, it is even encouraged and recommended that you double-mask. It is a better protection especially when you are travelling.
Wear your masks properly
Make sure that you wear your mask properly. Regardless of how expensive and good your mask is, it won’t do proper job if you don’t wear it properly. Make sure to not just hang it around your chin. If it is disposable mask, make sure not to wear it again on the next day. Do not attempt to wash disposable or single-use mask because you will only break the layer and it won’t do any good with protecting you.
Pay attention to your skin
It is not only your breathing that is affected by bad air quality. Your skin can be affected too since it is the outer part of your body that protect you from any harm. When your skin is exposed to unhealthy air, it can suffer from various skin problems such as eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, premature aging, skin cancer, etc. Make sure to always wear moisturizer and reapply your SPF every two hours.
Stay indoor or move somewhere else
When you are abroad and experiencing bad air quality in the place you are visiting, it is best to stay indoor and wait until heavily polluted days are over. If you have to move around, opt for metro or taxis. You can also consider a relocation to some places better, because constantly breathing in bad air will affect your mental well-being too.
