‘Behind the Blue’: UK experts share tips for summer travel, safety, learning, family fun

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 30, 2026) — Summer is often thought of as the easy season — school is out, the days are longer and families are heading to pools, parks, camps, museums, beaches, mountains and airports.

But summer also comes with questions, especially for parents, caregivers and travelers: Do we need vaccines before a trip? Are prescriptions refilled? What should we do about ticks, sunburns or injuries? And how can families keep kids learning without making summer feel like school?

On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” experts from across the University of Kentucky offer a practical “Summer Survival Guide” to help listeners plan ahead, stay safe and make the most of the season.

The episode begins with Nick Van Sickels, M.D., an infectious disease physician at UK HealthCare, who discusses how travel clinics help people prepare for trips abroad. Housed within the Bluegrass Care Clinic, UK HealthCare’s travel clinic helps travelers think through vaccines, food and water safety, altitude, transportation, medical evacuation coverage, and destination-specific risks.

Van Sickels emphasizes that travel planning is about more than checking a vaccine box. A travel clinic visit can help build a comprehensive prevention plan based on where someone is going, what they will be doing and what health needs they may have.

Listeners will also hear from Dylan Spencer, Pharm.D., a pharmacist with UK HealthCare Pharmacies and the UK Pharmacist Care team. Spencer shares advice on refilling prescriptions before travel, keeping medications in original labeled containers, packing prescriptions in carry-on luggage, protecting medications from heat and moisture, and checking whether over-the-counter supplies may be covered by FSA or HSA plans.

The episode then turns to summer safety with Christopher Belcher, M.D., associate professor in the UK College of Medicine and associate program director for emergency medicine. Belcher explains how summer changes what emergency departments see, with more trauma, orthopedic injuries and environmental exposures. He discusses helmet use, water supervision, hydration, sunscreen, tick checks, animal bites, first-aid kits, fireworks safety and when families should consider the emergency department versus urgent care or a pediatrician.

For families thinking about the “summer slide,” Jonathan Thomas, Ed.D., from the UK College of Education, offers a lower-pressure approach to keeping kids’ minds active. Rather than trying to recreate school at home, Thomas encourages families to use board games, reading, libraries, new places, made-up games and simple questions to keep children curious and engaged.

The episode closes with Stuart Horodner, director of the UK Art Museum, who offers advice for families looking for meaningful summer outings. Horodner encourages visitors not to worry about being “right” when they visit a museum, but instead to notice what catches their attention, slow down, ask questions and let curiosity guide the experience.

“Behind the Blue” is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

“Behind the Blue” is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show’s blog page. 

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This interview has been edited for time and clarity.