What you should think about this holiday season: great food, stories around the fireplace, and hot cocoa. Instead, you’re worried about home, other drivers, and all the dangers of winter travels.
Between the increase in the number of robberies and petty larceny crimes as well as the high rate of drunk driving accidents, it’s no wonder the winter months can quickly turn from joyous to precarious.
Any travel is often a time rife with mishaps – necessitating flexibility, safety precautions, and a contingency plan in an emergency. Preparedness is the key to a successful, safe, and enjoyable trip.
To prevent your vacation from going awry, follow these 7 travel safety tips for families.
Top 7 Safety Tips for Families when Traveling During the Holidays
Every holiday traveler deserves to enjoy life with their family and friends without the ongoing fear of something happening on the road or back home. Save some brain space to rest and relax this year with our 7 safety tips to help you plan in case of an emergency.
1. Put House Lights on a Timer
For anyone leaving their home, the truth is that you should be worried about robberies and break-ins while you’re gone. During December, petty larceny and robberies increased by 20%, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey. One way to give potential criminals pause is by setting your house lights on a timer.
When homes go dark for days at a time, they become targets for skilled burglars who use light patterns as a tip-off that the homeowners are away on vacation. Research shows that less crime occurs in well-lit streets, so it makes sense to do the same for your home at night.
To prevent your home from being broken into while you are out of town, install a reasonably-priced light timer that you can use to program your lights so they turn on and off at different times throughout the day. If the lights alternate between rooms, it will look like someone is home and moving around the house.
2. Tell a Trusted Neighbor and the Police
Another good way to protect your home while you’re out of town is to alert a trusted neighbor and the local police station about your planned vacation days. Building a community in your neighborhood lets criminals know they are at higher risk of being caught.
In addition, you can rely on your neighbor to collect your mail/packages, take care of house pets or plants, and call you with any strange happenings on your property while you’re away.
Depending on your relationship with local police, officers can cruise periodically to monitor your home and look out for suspicious activity.
3. Photocopy and Backup All Documents and Store in a Secure Folder
Before you leave for vacation, ensure all necessary documents have been photocopied, stored, and backed up on an external hard drive.
When traveling, print out a copy of these documents or create a digital version accessible via smartphone. Apps like Dashlane allow you to do this, or there’s always the tried and tested password-locked folder.
Documents you’ll want to make sure you copy include driver’s licenses, passports, major credit cards, health insurance cards, and proof of car insurance.
4. Make Good Use of the Hotel Safe
Rather than leaving your belongings in the open, locate the hotel safe in your family’s hotel room. Usually, it’s standard that the hotel keeps it in a closet or drawer. While it’s not 100% protective, it’s much safer than your valuables left around the room.
Set up a password that your family members will remember easily, and get in the habit of leaving valuable documents, wallets, and electronics in the safe to protect yourself in case of a robbery.
5. Know Your Family’s Limits
The number one thing to remember while traveling is that each family member should understand their physical and emotional limits. Children have shorter attention spans and get tired quickly, so vacations overbooked with activities and lack of built-in rest time lead to difficulties for parents and their kids.
Nobody should try to push themselves on a vacation if they are sleep-deprived, sick, or unable to get through a long day. Instead, prioritize health – ensure everyone eats regular, healthy meals and sleeps appropriately each night.
Consider purchasing travel insurance on flights and activities if someone falls ill or is past their limits. You will never know when it might come in handy.
6. Stay Hydrated
While this might sound silly, dehydration is a serious issue whether traveling on the road or in the air. When away from home, drink more water than usual as you’re expending extra energy doing different activities or driving down a highway without many rest stops.
Avoid any alcohol or caffeine drinks, as they will dehydrate you quickly. If you notice any headaches, extreme thirst, or dark-colored urine, it’s time to start drinking water, as you’re likely dehydrated.
In a pinch, purchase some pouches of emergency drinking water and leave them in your car if you get stuck during a snowstorm, or your car breaks down.
7. Be Prepared for a Travel Emergency with a Travel Emergency Kit
Carry with you a home or auto emergency kit in case any family members are injured or sick. Find something portable you can carry while you are out of town.
You can buy one pre-made or assemble the necessary materials yourself.
Your emergency travel kit should include band-aids/gauze, medical tape, antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide, flashlights, a folding knife, fire starters, and a compass.
It is also wise to include a paper map of the city you are traveling to.
Stay Safe This Holiday Season with LifeSecure
Whether you’re staying at home or traveling on the road, safety preparedness needs to be in the back of your mind to ensure you and your family enjoy the holiday season this year and for years to come.
LifeSecure’s vast selection of emergency preparedness kits and safety products lets you rest assured your family is protected no matter the circumstances.
