Planning a family vacation can be an exciting time for everyone. For you, it's all about planning all of the details of family activities and a little alone time with your partner. For your kids, it's all about having some fun in a new place. But before you get ahead of yourself, make sure you're taking safety into account. Here are a few essential summer travel safety tips to teach your kids.
Safe Driving Practices Are Essential
If you're planning a more local vacation and your teen has volunteered to take a leg of the driving off your hands, make sure you're impressing the importance of maintaining safe driving habits on them. Just because it's summer doesn't mean they get to reenact the famous Shelby Cobra speed record of almost 186 MPH on the highway. Every safety lesson you taught them as they learned to drive still applies while you're on vacation. That means no talking on the phone or texting, no distractions, and following the speed limit. In addition, make sure you're there to give them any refreshers they might need. If this is their first time driving in an unfamiliar area, make sure they know it's okay to go a little bit slower and be more cautious than they normally would.
Sunscreen Is Not Optional
It can be tough to think that sunscreen is a safety measure for your vacation, but the truth is that ultraviolet radiation can cause a lot of damage to your kids' skin and yours. My family recently stayed at some of the best hotels in Tampa and I can't stress enough: you are going to need sunscreen. UVA and UVB rays have been linked to the development of several types of skin cancer. So while getting out on the beach can be a great way to spend the majority of your vacation, make sure your kids know just how important it is to apply sunscreen. Sunscreen should be applied before going out in the sun and every two hours or so if you're planning on spending the day outside. In addition, make sure your kids know to pack sun protection essentials like hats, sunglasses, and clothing that can cover their shoulders. A big beach umbrella is also a great addition to your beach vacation kit.
Keep Luggage Close at All Times
A local vacation can be nice, but sometimes you just have to hop on a plane and get away from your normal routine. And while flying is a particularly common form of travel with 24,833,000 hours of general aviation flight occurring annually, airport safety is something you absolutely need to review with your kids during the planning stages of your vacation. Covering basic safety measures like using the buddy system and staying in your eyesight are important, but luggage might not be at the top of your safety lesson list. The reality is that luggage is stolen all the time at airports. So make sure your kids know that if they don't want to lose the items they've brought with them that they need to keep their carry-on bags close at all times. If possible, they should be wearing their carry-on bags up until it's time to board the plane.
When you're planning a vacation, safety can seem like the last thing you need to worry about. In reality, it needs to be one of the first things on your planning checklist. A safe family vacation is a vacation that everyone can enjoy!
