Keep your
kids safe while traveling
Avoid
accidents and the horror of lost children...
Traveling
with kids can be a challenge, especially with the added worry of
safety thrown into the mix.
It is the responsibility of parents to ensure their
children's safety, so these following suggestions may help to
avoid accidents and the horror of lost children...
Before leaving on your holiday remind children about
your family safety procedures for dealing with
strangers, what to do if they get lost.
Keep a recent photo of
children handy, also a photocopy of passports kept
in a safe place or with a relative that can fax it
to you in case of loss.
If you label children's clothing, make sure the
label is inside so strangers are not able to learn
child's name.
A single parent travelling with children should
ensure that permission from other parent is readily
available for authorities (this is to prevent one
parent abductions). This is especially important
for air/train or cross border travel.
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, attractions.
Remind children about
road safety rules, hold the hand of children under
nine at all times when crossing a road or at an
intersection.
Remind older children to always tell you where they
are going, who with and what time they will be back,
have a contact number for them also.
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.
Provide a relative or
friend with your travel itinerary and the name and
telephone number of any hotels or resorts where you
will be staying, if available.
Ensure that all occupants of any vehicles are
properly secured and that there are no large or
heavy items in the vehicle that may injure the
occupants at any sudden stops. See the link below
for more information on car safety.
Never leave children alone in a car, temperatures
can rise rapidly in a parked car, especially in
tropical places.
If travelling by air,
make sure all family members are secured by the
safety belts when seated.
When using highchairs in restaurants, make sure that
children are secured by waist and middle strap.
Remind children to stay away from all animals.
Make them aware of poisonous insects, snakes etc.
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
Traveling
with kids can be a challenge, especially with the added worry of
safety thrown into the mix.
The
