Summer Safety Suggestions:

Ideas to help keep the whole family protected

by Daniel Sean Kaye

There comes a time in every young family’s life when a trip is necessary. Not the “Let’s run to the drug store really quickly” or “I need to visit the library” type of trip. No, eventually a vacation is required, and that means Mom, Dad, and Baby/Toddler are in for a new experience – together in a plane, train, or automobile for more time than they ever have been before.

For some, this is a nightmarish scenario, full of screams, cries, and embarrassing behavior – and that’s from the parents. It doesn’t have to be that way. Travel time with the family can be a dream. All it takes is some methodical thinking, preparation, and the ability to be flexible. That all starts with having a plan, one that takes into account one central point: A safe vacation is a happy vacation. 

New parents tend to think about safety more than anyone else. They baby-proof the house, car, and dog as soon as Baby is big enough to roll over. But entering a new environment – a friend or family member’s home, a hotel, a plane, train, boat or airplane – and trying to be safe may seem like a daunting task. Planning and a little know-how can make this easier.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), even though millions of travelers get sick every year, most of these illnesses can be prevented. The CDC suggests the best three tips for staying healthy are: Be informed – Learn about travel health risks and what to do to avoid them before your trip; Be ready – Get any vaccinations (shots) or medicines that you will need before you travel; and Be smart while you travel – Make sure you follow travel safety tips.

While your family doctor or pediatrician can help you with the first two points, following smart safety tips will be up to you. A simple safety measure to prevent illness is to have everyone wash their hands often with soap and water. If you’re traveling in an area where water quality is a concern, drink bottled or boiled water. Make sure the food you eat is fully cooked and that vegetables have been washed and peeled (preferably by you, says the CDC). And if bites from mosquitoes, ticks, or similar insects are a risk, use insect repellent (bug spray) with 30 percent to 50 percent DEET.

It’s also crucial to know how to protect yourself and loved ones from injury as well as what to do when injury occurs. Learn where the family can find medical professionals, the location of nearby hospitals, and keep phone numbers of health-care facilities with you (as well as a fully charged cell phone). It is also smart travel with bandages, ibuprofen, a bottle of water, a thermometer, antibiotic cream, and a list of any allergies (food and medicine) and health issues family members may have.

While staying in a new location, the staff at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, in Palo Alto, Calif., and the Stanford University School of Medicine make several suggestions. First, parental supervision can’t be underestimated. Don’t assume your child is safe or that someone else will look out for them. That is your job. Second, childproof the room in which you’re staying. That means making sure windows are locked (install window guards for young children) and moving all furniture away from windows so children won’t climb on it to get to the window. Most modern hotels have windows that do not open, but parents should check them to make sure.

Never forget sunscreen, says the staff. Even on overcast days, the sun can wreak havoc. And remember to reapply, especially after swimming – even if the sunscreen is waterproof. Broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks ultra-violet A and B should be put on every one to two hours and should have a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. Protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses, is smart, too.

To make the trip easier to take, be prepared for plenty of rest stops so that kids can safely stretch their legs a bit. Bring games, books, crayons, stickers, and paper to keep them occupied. Magnetic games are great for traveling but make sure they are safe for your child. If ingested, magnets can be a serious health concern for young children so if your child is at risk for putting them in his or her mouth, it is best to avoid magnetic toys. Try to maintain the same sleep schedule you have at home, too. Erratic or shortened hours can alter energy levels for everyone. Let them nap, too, because children may initially have a little difficulty sleeping in a new location and even a little rest is better than none.

Taking a trip should be the beginning of happy memories for everyone. To keep that going, take some time to think about what you’d need to do in case of an accident or illness. Hopefully it won’t be necessary, but isn’t safe better than sorry?

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TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS
from the Transportation Security Administration, the AAP, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control

Traveling by Airplane
• Allow yourself and your family extra time to get through security - especially when traveling with younger children.
• Talk to your children before coming to the airport about the security screening process. Let them know that their bags (backpack, dolls, etc.) will be put in the X-ray machine and will come out the other end and be returned to them.
• Discuss the fact that it’s against the law to make threats such as; “I have a bomb in my bag.” Threats made jokingly (even by a child) can result in the entire family being delayed and could result in fines.
• Similar to travel in motor vehicles, a child is best protected on an airplane when properly restrained in a car safety seat appropriate for the age, weight and height of the child, meeting standards for aircraft until the child weighs more than 40 lbs. and can use the aircraft seat belt. You can also consider using a restraint made only for use on airplanes and approved by the FAA. Belt-positioning booster seats cannot be used on airplanes, but they can be checked as luggage so you have them for use in rental cars and taxis.
• Although the FAA allows children under age 2 to be held on an adult’s lap, the AAP recommends that families explore options to ensure that each child has his own seat. Discounted fares may be available. If it is not feasible for you to purchase a ticket for a small child, try to select a flight that is likely to have empty seats.
• Pack a bag of toys and snacks to keep your child occupied during the flight.
• In order to decrease ear pain during descent, encourage your infant to nurse or suck on a bottle. Older children can try chewing gum. Filling up a glass of water and blowing bubbles through a straw (4 years of age or older), or blowing up balloons (8 years of age or older) are additional options.
• Consult your pediatrician before flying with a newborn or infant who has chronic heart or lung problems or with upper or lower respiratory symptoms.
• Consult your pediatrician if flying within 2 weeks of an episode of an ear infection or ear surgery.

International Travel
• If traveling internationally, make sure your child is up to date on her vaccinations and check with your doctor to see if she might need additional vaccines.
• In order to avoid jet lag, adjust your child’s sleep schedule 2-3 days before departure. After arrival, children should be encouraged to be active outside or in brightly lit areas during daylight hours to promote adjustment.
• Conditions at hotels and other lodging may not be as safe as those in the U.S. Carefully inspect for exposed wiring, pest poisons, paint chips, or inadequate stairway or balcony railings.

Traveling by Car
• Always use a car safety seat for infants and children under 40 pounds. A rear-facing car seat should be used until your child has reached one year of age AND weighs at least 20 pounds. Once your child is at least one year of age and at least 20 pounds, he can ride in a forward-facing car seat, but it is better to keep him rear-facing to the highest weight and/or height allowed by his car safety seat.
• A child who has outgrown her car safety seat with a harness (she has reached the top weight or height allowed for her seat, her shoulders are above the top harness slots, or her ears have reached the top of the seat) should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly (usually when the child reaches about 4’ 9” in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age).
• All children under 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles.
• Never place a child in a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has an airbag.
• Set a good example by always wearing a seat belt.
• Children can easily become restless or irritable when on a long road trip. Try to keep them occupied by pointing out interesting sights along the way and by bringing soft, lightweight toys and favorite CDs for a sing-along.
• Plan to stop driving and give yourself and your child a break about every two hours.
• Never leave your child alone in a car, even for a minute. Temperatures inside the car can reach deadly levels in minutes. Unattended children can also remove their seat harnesses and release parking brakes putting them and others at risk of an accident.
• In addition to a travelers’ health kit, parents should carry safe water and snacks, child-safe hand wipes, diaper rash ointment, and a water- and insect-proof ground sheet for safe play outside.