7 Tips for Keeping Children Safe While Travelling

Going on vacation is fun, and you can make things easier by planning beforehand. There are tips to make the best of your trip, but things can be different if you travel with kids. Travelling with children can be challenging. But, taking your kids to see the sights and landscapes of the world can also be incredibly rewarding for the entire family, especially when you know how to keep your child safe in a foreign place. Here are seven tips on keeping children safe while travelling.

 

1. Make Sure They Know Emergency Information

Emergency contact information can vary by country and location. Be sure that children know the emergency number in the countries you're visiting. Older children should be able to memorise their own information as well as their parents' names and phone numbers in case anyone gets separated during travel. 

For younger children, you can keep an easily accessible written list with your contact information on it in one of their pockets. Your child can give it to emergency personnel if needed.  Go through some safety preparations with your children as well. Practice makes perfect, and it helps kids not to panic in dangerous situations.

 

2. Use Child Safety Seats in the Car

*Photo by Erik Przekop on Flickr

Using the right car seat for your child can decrease the risk of fatal injury by 70%. Infants and toddlers who are still under the rear-facing height and weight limit for their car seat should always ride rear-facing for maximum protection in a crash. Older kids should have a belt-positioning booster seat until the car's seat belt fits properly on their shoulders. If you're using a rental car company, many will have car seats available for use with the car. If you're travelling with a child who doesn't like using a car seat, be sure to have some distractions, like snacks, age-appropriate electronics and small toys or games. 

The choice of seats is also important on public transport and planes. Let your child sit in the middle or next to the window. This way, they will be protected from sudden movements in the aisle or in case they suddenly doze off.

 

3. Pack an Emergency Medical Kit

When travelling with young children, there are often minor injuries or illnesses that can easily be treated by you without a visit to a clinic. Before heading out on a trip with your children, make sure your emergency medical kit is well-stocked and easily accessible in your vehicle. There are many necessities that you should keep in your kit. Some suggestions include bandages, antiseptic cream or wipes, antidiarrheal medication, and children's pain-relief medication. Depending on the area you're travelling to, you may also want bug-bite relief and mosquito spray.

 

4. Choose a Kid-Friendly Destination

It is a given that you want to go to a place with lots of appealing attractions and fun activities, but where you go needs to be suitable for children too. See what kind of dangers await children in the destination of your choice. Do research into the level of security and crime rate.

Also, know your kids' limits and capabilities. For instance, going to a place that needs lots of walking and hiking might not be a good idea for kids. If you still want to go to such a place, have all the necessary equipment ready. If you think they may be bored, bring some toys and tools to keep the kids occupied when they look idle.

 

5. Have a Plan for the Time You Get Separated

*Photo by AngelsWings on Flickr

It is essential that kids stay together and don’t get separated from their families. You can teach the kids to be where their parents are and always keep up with their mom and dad.

There might be times when the family gets separated by accident or in crowded locations. So, you need to practise such a scenario for the kids and go through a plan together. One plan is for the children to stay where they are once they feel lost. It is very likely that they are just near you, and you can easily find them by looking around. If this plan didn’t work, teach your kids to look for an employee or a uniformed person without panic and ask for their help.

 

6. Have Travel or Health Insurance

Since anything may happen during the trip, and unfortunate accidents are possible, you and your kids should be covered under some kind of insurance. If you are travelling within your own country, domestic travel insurance can suffice; however, it is good to check and see if you have global coverage included for an international trip.

Purchasing additional coverage might be needed because some activities are not covered by travel insurance. If you are British visiting an EU country, make sure to get a Global Health Insurance Card for you and your family. There is no age limit for this coverage, so you can get it for the extra safety of your kids.

 

7. Childproof Everything

When in your accommodation, accidents can happen, too. So, take care of everything that can be dangerous for your kids and childproof your room. For instance, take a look at the balconies and windows, check their height and keep them locked. Look for metal and sharp objects and ensure they are not near them. Check the wall and see there are no electrical cords sticking out.

If you are staying in a hotel, you can also check with the hotel manager or staff and consult them on what measures you can take for your child’s safety. Children love exploring and like to get their hands on everything. So, make sure everything is safe in their space before letting them wander about.