This is the part two to my series on travel safety, and it’s all about kids – because your kids should be your number one priority when you travel.
Although travel isn’t inherently dangerous, the mere fact of going to places unknown does mean additional safeguards are in order. Unknown streets, different languages, unfamiliar landmarks and any location where absolutely everyone is a stranger demands that you keep a close watch on your children.
However, you don’t have to sacrifice having fun in the name of safety, if you use some common sense and follow some simple tips to ensure your child’s safety. Many of these tips can apply at home as well.
It’s easy to let go, but don’t let a sense of false security in amusement parks and child-centric places fool you. Keep your children in line of sight at all times. At a minimum, they can easily get separated in chaotic crowds and being lost can be very traumatic event for a child (not to mention a parent). If you have a large family, use the buddy system and assign each member the responsibility to keep tabs on one other member. This will help avoid the “I thought you were watching them” scenario.
When you arrive at a park or attraction, teach your child where to find help – identify staff in uniforms so they know what to look for and caution them not to accept help from anyone else. If they’re old enough, consider equipping them with walkie-talkies. In large attractions, identify a landmark and direct older children to find it and wait there if they get separated from you.
Holidays make us think places are friendlier, but remember Madelyn McCann — child predators can strike anywhere. Hire sitters only through the hotel or a reputable firm. Even if it costs a bit more, it’s worth it. You’ll also get a child minder that knows the facility, speaks your language and has first aid credentials.
Strangers prey on the vulnerabilities of children. Stress to your child you love them, would never leave them, and would never to stop looking for them if lost – no matter what anyone else tells them. Establish a code word or symbol that anyone sent to them on your behalf in an emergency situation would know.
Keep a recent photo of him/her. Better yet, keep a record of what your child is wearing each day (cellphone pics are great). There’s nothing more stressful than trying to describe a lost kid and blanking on what they look like. Every four-year old is three feet tall and cute, make sure you can give specifics – when a child is lost, minutes count!
Make sure your child (if old enough) knows your real name (not Mom or Dad) and your cell phone number, at a minimum. If possible, give your child a picture of you, their parents, to carry (could be in a charm or keychain) – this will help authorities locate you and ensure your child gets matched to the correct ‘parents.’ Make sure they know the name of the hotel where you are staying, as well.
For long stays in unfamiliar surroundings, I always stop by and introduce myself and my children to the hotel manager and staff. A friendly ‘get acquainted’ chat that makes them aware of who your child belongs to can be very helpful. Don’t, however, rely on hotel staff to ‘watch over’ your children for you, unless they have been specially engaged to do so.
If you truly believe your child is lost or taken, DO NOT WASTE TIME trying to find them yourself or going to places you think they may be. IMMEDIATELY request that Security close all exits. Predators often hide with children in bathrooms – make sure they are checked.
This brings up another point – always have a trusted adult accompany small children into the restroom. This is one of the places children are most frequently snatched from. When my own sons were older and insisted on going alone (around 8 or 9), I was never too shy to go into the men’s room to find them, if needed.
Complete one of those child safety fingerprint cards – it’s an unpleasant thought, but still a good idea.
Avoid putting your child name’s on anything visible – using it could make a kidnapper seem familiar to a child. At Disney and other chaotic places, we zip-tied a dog tag on my son’s wrist engraved with our last name only, and our cellphone number. (Zip ties are almost impossible for children to remove – but don’t attach them to clothing or shoes, as they could remove those).
Note anyone taking too much interest in your child, or taking photos of your child. Refuse any offers from strangers to mind your children, hold them, or take them anywhere for any reason, no matter how busy you are, or how friendly they seem.
Consider the decision to let older siblings watch younger ones carefully – they’re not sophisticated enough to spot or thwart deviants, and they often don’t supervise their charges closely enough. In the unlikely event that there’s trouble, you wouldn’t want to endanger your older children as well. Even poolside or by the ocean– older children who feel guilty for being inattentive have drowned trying to save younger ones.
Make sure your child has the appropriate equipment for your activities, including sunblock (tropical countries can be brutal on tender skin), sunglasses or a hat, correct-sized life preservers, car seats, insect repellent, bottled water, etc. For day trips, take plenty of familiar snacks – most children will refuse foreign food – and it may be hard in some locations to find food they like. (The safety of your children is most in danger when they are cranky and irritating, and you are annoyed and therefore ignoring them).
Watch children closely when touring foreign countries – near cliffs, on ruins, by the water, near streets, anywhere wild animals are present. Many countries do not pay the same attention to safety in the form of rails, barriers or traffic signals that we do in the western world. Many of the world’s foreign beaches (outside of resorts) have no lifeguards. Rescue and first aid in remote places is can be difficult, at best.
Older children require less supervision, but for adolescents and teenagers old enough to wander a bit on their own, consider arming them with preloaded Visa cards they can use in an emergency to make calls to you, to the hotel, or to pay for cab fare back to your lodgings.
The independence of teenagers can be a hard fought battle but in recent years teenaged, and even college aged, girls have been frequently victimized in foreign countries. Have a frank talk about the dangers of drugs, drinking, and charming foreign men. Set a hotel curfew, and demand that any emergencies that cause a deviation will be accompanied by a phone call. Make sure they understand that no matter what the circumstances, Mom or Dad will always come and get them.
Children can be more vulnerable to disease. Scrutinize all parts of any foreign itinerary and consider if the experience is worth the exposure to infection. Travel to some countries may require that the normal course of childhood immunizations be sped up to provide your child with the needed protections.
Make sure young children understand the importance of telling you if they feel sick, or have been bitten by an insect or animal, but don’t rely on them to do so. Remember that the stress and exhaustion of traveling, jet lag, and unfamiliar environments can easily mask illness. Caution them strongly against drinking the water in affected countries (even the tap water in the hotel, if necessary), but make sure they stay well hydrated. (My international travels have taught me not to even use the bath water to brush my teeth in some places).
Other countries may require that you have the permission of a non-traveling spouse to be traveling alone with your child. Even if you are happily married, you may need a written statement from your spouse to travel abroad with a child. (This can be very important for mothers traveling through Muslim countries and societies where woman do not have equal status).
For the benefit of your children, and the whole family, make sure your health insurance will cover your travels and consider buying ancillary travel insurance. If you’re traveling to less developed countries, it’s highly advisable to get supplementary insurance that will airlift the injured or sick party (and a companion) to acceptable health facilities, if necessary.
