99TravelSafe.com
7 - Safety of Traveling Children!
The Website For The Smart and Savvy Traveler
BEFORE leaving on your holiday remind children about your family safety procedures for dealing with strangers and what to do in case they get lost.
Keep a recent photo of children handy, also a photocopy of passports kept in a safe place or with a relative who can fax it to you in case of loss OR keep scanned copies in your web based e-mail.
Parents should take special care when traveling with young children. Good preparation is important.
Remember to include children in your travel insurance.
Seek advice about vaccinations and anti-malarial medication from your doctor.
Ask the airline about special seating and cots in good time.
When traveling with a baby, carry a bottle or dummy for the baby to suck on during take off and landing. This helps to equalize ear pressure and reduces discomfort.
Keep some form of identification attached to your child in case you become separated.
For emergency purposes, take along several recent photographs of your child.
Leave extra copies with another family member.
Be prepared for possible travel sickness.
Take books or toys to relieve boredom.
Use high-factor sunscreens and keep children out of the mid-day sun.
Give children frequent cool drinks to avoid dehydration.
Be scrupulous about food and water hygiene.
Take rehydration sachets in case of diarrhea.
Keep children away from stray or sick animals.
Seek medical advice immediately if an illness persists.
Respect children’s eating habits.
Respect children’s sleeping habits.
A single parent traveling with children should ensure that permission from other parent is readily available for authorities (this is to prevent single parent abductions).
Always ensure one parent is in charge of keeping an eye on children and perhaps other parent can look after arrangements for travel.
Dressing children in bright colors makes them readily visible. Try to remember what they are wearing.
Consider using a harness for toddlers, especially in busy places like airports etc.
Remind children about road safety rules, hold the hand of children under 9 at all times when crossing a road or at an intersection.
Tell kids what to do if they become separated from you. They should stay where they are so you can return to find them. Tell them to look for a mom with children and tell her that you need help finding your parents.
Dress kids in bright colors so they are easy to find in a crowd. It may sound cheesy, but you may even want to dress all of your kids in the same color so they are easy to spot.
Write on your child’s arm with a permanent marker like a Sharpie, ‘If found, please call…
Remind older children to always tell you where they are going
Be careful when using public washrooms with young children.
Wash hands regularly.
Review your home address, telephone number and provide your children with the name, address and telephone number of a relative or friend to contact in an emergency.
Never leave children alone in a car, temperatures can rise rapidly in a parked car.
When using highchairs in restaurants, make sure that children are secured by waist and middle strap.
Keep candles on the table out of reach of children.
Remind children to stay away from all animals.
Avoid latex balloons, small toys and hard pieces of food due to the risk of choking.
Keep medicines and poisons away from small children and watch that children don't eat any plants.
If you are bringing or plan on using bicycles while on vacation make sure all family members are biking safely
(see tips 90).
Always keep your fingers away from elevator doors.
If you get caught in an elevator, press the emergency button - but never play with the emergency button.
If a child accidentally gets onto the elevator without a parent, teach them how to get to the lobby and go straight to the lobby desk.
Never fool around on escalators and always hold on to the hand rail.
If traveling with young children, place suitcases on the floor as Suitcase racks can be pulled over by young children and cause injury.