Vacation and Travel Safety for Kids

Here are some tips on vacation and travel safety for kids to get you started. It's great to head off on a family vacation, but you also want to make sure that you are safe throughout the trip. There are many areas to consider, from the travel and transport arrangements to accommodations to looking after kids' general health.

Looking After Kids' Health
When thinking about travel safety for kids, the issues to consider start before you even leave. It's essential to think about kids' health, especially if they are taking prescription medication. Make sure that you get enough medication to last throughout the trip, and get a copy of the prescription in case you need to refill it in an emergency. You never know when a small sniffle will turn into something worse, so take some kids' medicine for cold and fever. Cuts and bruises can happen at any time, so a first aid kit is a good addition to your travel bag. Take a copy of the kids' medical records with you, especially if they have any serious health conditions. It is also worthwhile to get travel insurance with medical coverage, in case you need to cover the costs of hospitalization while abroad.

Travel Tips
When traveling with kids, it's a good idea to observe all the safety rules that apply at home. If you are traveling by car, babies should be in a rear-facing child seat, while older kids should be in a seat that's appropriate for their age. All children under 13 should ride in the back of the car. When traveling by plane, children under two may sit on your lap with a suitable child restraint. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that they have their own seat. Children need to know about how airport security works so that they won't be alarmed when their favorite toys are passed through a scanner. Older children need to be aware that making jokes about bombs could result in a delayed holiday and financial penalties.

Entertaining Kids
It can take a long time to reach a holiday destination, and this can seem like an eternity to a young child. It's wise to pack additional snacks so that you can keep your child fed during the long trip. Another tip is to take plenty of entertainment in the form of toys, games and books so that children can entertain themselves during the trip. This will make things run more smoothly for the whole family. If you are traveling on a plane, take some chewing gum so that older children can use it to alleviate the pain caused by air pressure during takeoff and landing. Younger children can suck a pacifier or bottle to relieve any discomfort in their ears.

Getting Around
Once you have arrived at your destination, check out the best and safest ways to get to and from areas like the pool, the restaurant and the kids' club. Make sure that kids travel in pairs and that you accompany younger children. When leaving your accommodations, it's safest to travel as a family. If this is a country where driving is on the opposite side of the road, warn your kids about the need to pay extra attention when crossing the road, as traffic will be approaching from an unusual direction.

When people are on vacation, they are more relaxed and often less careful about personal security and their belongings than they would be at home. This is exactly when you need to be most careful. Kids should avoid flashing large amounts of cash around or leaving treasured belongings unattended. It's an invitation for an unscrupulous person to steal.

Finally, make sure that your kids know what to do if they become separated from you or get lost. For younger kids, make sure that they have the hotel address and your phone number with them. Teach your children to recognize who can give them help (such as the local police) and who should be avoided. Then you will be all set for a fun and safe family vacation.