With summer vacations quickly approaching, families who travel
together may be rallying their options to get to exotic locations
by planes, trains and automobile.
However, the younger the children, the more aspects parents have
to consider to get everyone safely to the family’s destination.
A family’s means of travel brings a different set of
considerations. Lengthy road trips may be cumbersome for those
traveling with newborns or toddlers in need of entertainment.
Every person traveling by plane has to concern him or herself
with recycled air, especially on longer flights. And fussy newborns
could also be a problem.
Food preparation is also one avenue with which parents need to
pay attention, because ill-prepared dining could make a family
vacation go south very quick.
Getting everyone in the family to their destination together is
just as important as safety. The AmberWatch Foundation’s Web site
at www.amberwatchfoundation.org
can make suggestions of cell phones on the market which can
download a Global Positioning System application or feature to
locate a child who has been separated from the pack.
Sometimes its difficult to get a diagnosis if a child becomes
sick while on vacation or particularly on the road or plane.
Pediatrician Debra Dublitz from Littleton Pediatric Medical
Center, with locations in Littleton and Highlands Ranch, said
vomiting and diarrhea indicate a child may have picked up a viral
infection. Food handlers and other restaurant personnel may be the
cause of said situation, so Dublitz said to be careful of what and
where the kids eat.
With snacks being one way to break up the monotony of a road
trip, some families will pack their own meals; however, families
need to be careful not to leave food in the heat. Otherwise, the
vacation may end at the pediatrician’s office instead of Walt
Disney World.
Cleanliness is a theme for any travel plans. Hand sanitizer is
sold in travel size bottles, which easily fit in a purse, backpack
or baby bag.
“Hand-to-mouth contact is one of the biggest ways to get sick,”
Dublitz said.
Are we there yet?
Although the cost of group flights and specials have decreased
in recent years, the family road trip is still a cornerstone of the
American family’s summer vacation, or at least a lengthy
weekend.
Any parent knows that the key to traveling with children is
keeping them entertained, especially on longer trips. Built in DVD
players and travel DVD players have become a necessity for families
who find themselves in the car at length. However, if the car has
only one player for more-than-one child, the road trip becomes an
example of sharing or a heated debate of which movie is better,
“Finding Nemo” or “Monsters Inc.”
Dr. Dublitz suggested planned stops for lengthy car trips is a
good idea for several reasons. It gives kids a chance to get out
and stretch their legs, get their blood moving again and expel
pent-up energy from the ride.
Having prepared snacks can help children keep spirits up on long
rides, particularly ones which do not need a cooler to keep from
spoiling, like crackers, nuts and some low-sugar gummy treats.
The car should also be packed with a virtual Romper Room.
Coloring books, playing cards and travel gaming systems like a
personal Playstation (PSP) for the older kids, dolls, books and
other toys that don’t include a lot of accessories are all quality
items for putting on the packing list.
For kids who are old enough, maps of the destination may also be
a fun way for them to track the progress of the trip. There are
plenty of smart-phone applications available to download to do just
that.
And of course, encouraging naps is one way to shave off the time
it takes to reach family fun, so pack pillows and blankets for
all.
Come fly with me
All planes recycle the air within them when in flight, so the
spreading of germs is a larger risk in such a confined space.
Dublitz said parents should attempt to keep the family together
as much as possible and keep them washed and sterilized as much as
possible will prove to be the difference.
“Don’t let them run around, and keep them from handling
everything,” the doctor said.
International flights may require hours on the flight in the
double digits. Every one will need to stretch their legs at some
point to keep the blood circulating. Children should have escorts
for both health reasons and safety, to prevent getting
separated.
Airports are also an easy location to lose a family member,
particularly a child. In case a kid is separated from the rest of
the family, it’s important to have easy ways to identify the child.
A bright shirt with an easily described design on the front, like a
Disney character such as Tinkerbell, will give airport authorities
that extra tool they need to locate a lost child quickly.
Temporary tattoos for children, placed on their arms in sight
from the sleeve, are also a quick identifier for airport security.
Bright colored baseball caps, backpacks and jackets are also a good
idea, because flamboyant accessories could be easier to spot on
airport security cameras.
Click it or ticket
With so many seat-belt regulations and findings continue to
surfacing, it seems travelers have to keep their children facing
backward in a car seat until the age of 40.
However, the basic requirements are easy to remember, and
fortunately there are outlets in every community where proper seat
belt and car seat installation can be checked.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests
purchasing a car seat specifically for the child’s age and size.
The seat should also fit the car well and should be used every time
after.
Always refer to a car-seat manufacturer’s instructions when
installing and check the car’s owners manual for any seat belt
latch system specifics. Height and weight limits could be a
factor.
To maximize safety, keep a child in the car seat for as long as
possible as long as he or she fits the manufacturer’s height and
weight requirements.
There are specific requirements for certain age groups; birth-12
months, 1-3 years, 4-7 years and 8-12 years. Each age group has a
different restraint type; rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car
seats, booster seats and seat belts.
One can learn more about the specific age groups and restraint
types by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration’s Web site at www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS. One
can learn about laws and regulations involving air bags, brakes,
tires and seat belts, among others, there as well.
Prescription for fun
Believe it or not, there are some medicinal solutions for
children and even newborns to help them get through lengthy road
and flight travel.
Benadryl is a safe option. It can be used to help a child sleep
on long flights, but a doctor should always be consulted first.
Dublitz said if a parent is thinking about using Benadryl for
their child, it’s a good idea to test it on a kid prior to travel.
She said it may have a paradoxical reaction on some kids and could
make them hyper.
“That’s not something you want to find out when you’re on the
plane,” Dublitz said.
For car sickness, Dramamine also has child dose versions
available as well. Infant Tylenol can help keep newborns
comfortable, and a pediatrician may be able to prescribe a medicine
to help a newborn who is dealing with any kind of acid reflux.
Again, consult your physician and-or pediatrician before using
any kind of over-the-counter and prescription medications for
children.
Get your car seats properly installed
Car seats are specificially designed to meet safety regulations,
but it never hurts to make sure a mistake isn’t made in the seats
installation. A handful of outlets will be able to help a parent to
ensure a car seat is properly installed.
Local law enforcement – several outfits at the municipal and
country levels have personnel who can make sure your car seat is
properly installed. With some, you may be able to drop in while
others may require making an appointment. Called ahead may be a
good idea.
Local fire departments – like law enforcement, several fire and
emergency districts have personnel in their stations who are
educated in proper car seat installation. Again, calling ahead may
be the thing to do.
Local hospitals – at most hospitals, when a woman is leaving
with her newborn baby, a specialist may check the newborn’s car
seat before the parents are allowed to even leave. Getting with a
hospital’s infant care specialist to check the installation of a
car seat could save a family from tragedy if an accident should
occur.