How to Keep Your Family Safe While Traveling on Vacation

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The relaxed feeling one gets from being on vacation in a new destination gives people a false sense of security. Perhaps they let their guard down and become less inhibited, making them more free-spirited and less cautious.

On vacation, it’s natural to assume nothing will go wrong since you’re there to have a good time, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. When you’re in a new environment, you must be even more alert than in your familiar surroundings, such as your hometown or favorite vacation destination. 

Keeping your family safe while traveling on vacation is easier said than done. In this regard, we’ve curated some safety tips that can come in handy to ensure you have a safe and stress-free trip. 

Road Safety

It’s common for folks on a long road trip to unbuckle their seatbelts, thinking the open road is safe, so it’s unlikely to be involved in a crash. However, the reality is that many accidents happen on long-distance trips, and a seatbelt can mean life or death. For this reason, you must remain buckled up for the duration of the journey. 

Young children must be strapped in a child safety seat or booster seat. Experts advise that the child safety seat should be positioned in the middle of the back seat, away from active airbags. Ensure that you install the seat correctly to avoid fatal injuries to your baby in case of an accident. 

If you’re traveling in a vehicle with only one row of seats, like a pickup truck, you inevitably need to have the child safety seat in the front. In this case, it is best to turn off the airbag. 

You may think you can drive for hours without getting tired, but it’s safest to stop every one to two hours to get some fresh air and stretch your legs. This will help you stay alert. If possible, avoid driving in the early to mid-afternoon, roughly around 1 pm – 3 pm. At this part of the day, your body temperature is lower, which makes you feel drowsy. 

Ensure you research gas stations, parks, and state-sponsored rest areas along the route you’re traveling on well in advance to know where you can stop.

Protect Your Personal Information Online

Most of us enjoy posting pictures and videos of our vacation destinations on social media. While posting on social media is okay, avoid tagging your location. Alternatively, wait until you’re back home to post about your trip on social media. This keeps you safe from criminals.

Another common mistake people make while traveling is browsing using public Wifi. Using public Wi-Fi makes it easier for hackers to access your personal information. Consider a portable router instead, and set up your Wifi to connect to your devices. This allows you to stay connected while not compromising your personal information.

We lose our phones more than we admit, especially while traveling on vacation. Using a password to protect your phone is always ideal as there is a good chance that your phone contains important personal information like your banking app and email. Without a password, anyone can use this information to defraud you. You can also enable location tracking and install wiping software as an additional security measure. This will allow you to track the phone if you’ve lost it or destroy the data saved on it. 

Make Sure You Have Sufficient Medical Cover

Since vacations are usually only for a short time – not more than a couple of weeks- many people aren’t concerned about ensuring they have medical cover. However, if you’re traveling abroad, read your policy documents to see if you’re covered and if you’re not, it’s worth purchasing supplemental medical insurance.

If you’re vacationing within the country, your current health insurance may cover some of the health care providers in the area you are traveling to, depending on your plan. For example, if you’re on a PPO insurance plan, you aren’t limited to specific hospitals and doctors. 

Always Wear Protective and Safety Gear

Accidents are unpredictable situations. Always have the correct protective equipment and safety gear to ensure a smooth trip. For example, if you are visiting a hotel with a pool, pack flotation devices like armbands and ensure your young children always wear them when they’re in the pool. 

In some cases, you may have the option of renting safety equipment like a life jacket when you’re going on a boat cruise or kayaking. Of course, you may think it’s unnecessary in an attempt to save on the cost. However, it is best to take a cautious approach rather than being sorry later in case of a misfortune. 

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