travel safely with your children
Over the summer months many families enjoy travelling around the UK, Europe and further afield with their young children. Many families with young Pre-School children will choose to travel off peak; taking advantage of lower priced fares and holiday bargains – extending the summer holidays into September and October.
Last month we looked at common health problems, this month we are looking at safety.
Wherever you go, remember that the environment you are in may not be as child friendly as your familiar home environment. Young children are keen to explore new environments and will expose themselves to new hazards as they experiment and explore.
When you are on holiday you will want as much time as possible together, but most parents also value some child-free time; this may lead to difficult decisions when you choose to leave your child in a hotel or with a babysitter. Events of the last few years have made all parents particularly cautious in this respect, but it is still possible to have some child-free time, or at least shared time where the children are nearby, but still being watched over.
eating out
Try and rotate babysitters amongst family and friends. In many holiday resorts you will find lots of resorts restaurants are situated within the hotel complex, allowing you the opportunity to eat out with or without the children.
Where possible take the children with you, often restaurants accommodate young children or at least allow you to park a sleeping toddler in their buggy.
If you are changing your child’s usual routines then you may find that they sleep in the day, and are well adapted to staying up late then making up most sleep the following day sleeping peacefully in the shade or under a towel on the beach. Even if usual routines, especially bedtimes are disrupted by late nights out, they will soon resume their normal pattern once they are home.
stay close
Whilst it is an individual choice, it is ok to leave children alone in their room for a short while, as long as you are happy with the security of the room; in particular that the child cannot leave the room without being seen, as well as ensuring safety from the outside. If your child is tired they will generally sleep soundly once settled, and are unlikely to wake up and wander around – but only you can judge your child in this respect. To recap, as long as the room is secure, and that you can see it then its acceptable to leave children for short periods.
Where possible avoid being on the ground floor, as it is easier for someone to gain access to ground level accommodation. Never rely on others without making sure you are happy with the arrangements for your children.
Ultimately all children are the responsibility of their parents, so do not leave the child unsupervised if you feel uneasy about it.
if they get lost
It is easy to take a more relaxed attitude to things simply because the sun's shining. In fact, on holiday we need to be extra diligent. All parents should take steps to make sure if their kids stray, they can be easily found.
While away from home your children will not know the address and phone number of where they are staying, like they would for their own home.
Make sure you write your child’s name and your address on a piece of paper, and put it in their pocket or coat. Older children need to know of a meeting point in case they get lost. Pre-arrange a meeting place, especially when you go shopping in a market, or are at an adventure park.
room safety
When booking a room or apartment, don’t forget to ask about balconies and whether they are safe for young children. They shouldn't have wide railings that little ones could squeeze through, and they must be high enough so that tots are not able to climb over them.
It's also worth checking fire escapes when you arrive so everyone knows where they are and that the fire doors actually work.
It would also be worth purchasing a Carbon Monoxide detector, (available from B&Q and such hardware shops). It is unlikely that there will be a leak, but a Carbon Monoxide detector is the best way to be sure and it only costs a few pounds.
When you arrive in the room remove anything potentially dangerous, particularly if you have toddlers. Items such as glasses, knives, glass tables and ornamental vases should all be out of toddler’s reach. Pictures above cots can be taken down and ask for sharp-edged coffee tables and floor lamps to be stored away during your stay.
traffic dangers
Size up the proximity of public transport to where you are staying. Make a mental note of where your child might end up, should they wander off and board a bus or train.
Check what is on the other side of nearby fire escapes, as your child could have access to a busy road. Make sure that children know which side of the road the traffic will come from.
keep them contained
During the day, plan lots of activities so your kids won't get bored and wander off.
If you're by the pool or another outside place, make sure it's a secure area with contained activities; so there's no risk of them going off without you knowing about it.
Teaching children to swim as soon as possible is beneficial, and if they're not good swimmers don't let them out of your sight even for a moment when they play near the pool. Always check gates and fire escapes, assess any routes that allow people in or out for their impact on your children's safety.
train them well - 'stranger danger'
Build confidence in your children, so that if they do end up in a threatening situation they will know how to behave.
Tell them that if someone tries to grab them they should scream, kick and shout, "No! Leave me alone! You're not my mummy/daddy!" to alert passers-by that they are in danger.
Also make sure they know what to do if they get lost.
Tell them to find someone official looking - such as a policeman or member of staff - or if there's nobody around they should approach a family with young children and tell them they're lost.
Find the location of the nearest hospital or doctors' surgery and know the local procedures for summoning police, ambulance or other emergency services - just in case.
portable security devices
For extra peace of mind you might want to invest in a couple of these security gadgets, to help you relax when your children are out of sight.
A basic baby monitor lets you to keep an ear on events in your child's room.
Use a door alarm - most personal attack alarms can be easily converted to door alarms.
Get a waterproof wristband for your young child's wrist so that your mobile number is available should he or she wander off. They cost £3.50 each from www.familysafeshop.co.uk
water safety
Between 2001 and 2007, 30 British children under 10 drowned in holiday swimming pools abroad. Children need to be watched constantly, do not depend on a lifeguard who may not be trained to UK standards.
Swimming aids, such as armbands are great for playing in the water but can easily slip off. Therefore, you still need to keep an eye on your child. Swimming in the sea is a great activity for children, but close supervision by a competent adult who is a strong swimmer is essential – although accidents involving swimming in the sea are very rare, swimming pools carry a higher risk.
Top tips
- Actively supervise all young children near water.
- Choose pools that are fenced with locking gates.
- Make sure you know where your children are and what they're doing in the water, even if a pool has a lifeguard.
- Let children take swimming classes while on holiday, it is a great way of gaining water confidence and learning essential water safety skills.
sun protection
Studies have found that sunburn during childhood can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.
Use at least a factor 15 sunscreen and choose a "broad-spectrum" brand that has a four or five-star rating. Apply it to areas that cannot be protected by clothing, such as the face, ears, feet and backs of the hands. Choose sunscreens that are formulated for children and babies' skin.
Top tips
- Apply sunscreen before children go outdoors.
- Reapply sunscreen often throughout the day as it can easily be washed, rubbed or sweated off.
- Keep babies in complete shade, such as under trees, umbrellas, canopies or indoors.
- Protect a baby’s skin with loose-fitting clothes and a wide-brimmed hat that shades their face and neck.
- Make sure children drink regularly.
travel sickness
Children are more prone to motion sickness than adults. Early symptoms of motion sickness include hot flushes, dribbling and paleness.
Several medicines are available to reduce or prevent symptoms of motion sickness, these are available them from pharmacies or get them on prescription. Anti-sickness remedies containing Hyoscine are the most effective medicines for motion sickness; there are several brands of medicines containing Hyoscine and they come as a liquid for children.
Top tips
- Avoid staring at moving objects, such as waves or other cars. Instead, look ahead a little above the horizon at a fixed place.
- Keep motion to a minimum. For example, sit over the wing of a plane or on deck in the middle of a boat.
- Avoid heavy meals before and during travelling. It may be a good idea to avoid spicy or fatty foods.
- On long journeys, it may help to have a break and get some fresh air, drink some cold water and take a short walk.
- Ginger can improve motion sickness in some people. It can be taken in ginger biscuits, ginger tea or as tablets before a journey.
