Holidays are often in unfamiliar surroundings with language barriers and different customs however they are when we are most relaxed and in the past parents may not have considered potential dangers. It is very easy to let down your guard while on holidays as they are all about relaxing and fun. A responsible approach and some simple common sense safety precautions mean both you and the children can have a great holiday.
Security and safety is clearly now a real issue for parents. A survey we carried out in May and June 2008 shows that 81% of parents we more concerned this year than last year following the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Tour operators and accommodation providers should be conscious of this and do what is possible to allay those concerns and provide appropriate back up and facilities. Spending family time together in a secure environment is likely to be more important for parents now and shared family activities that everyone can enjoy together during both the day and the evening are a good way to achieve this. Having good approved and checked babysitting facilities or supervised evening activities while parents have a meal is a also good idea. Some hotels have taken this on board and have pyjama parties or movie nights for the kids and it is likely that the hotels and tour operators who do react to parents concerns are going to see a better take up.
Simple precautions should be more than enough but if you are in any doubt or feel uneasy do not take a risk. Talking to your children to make them aware of what they should do if they get lost or even trying to get them to memorise your mobile number or have it written on a wristband at a big busy event are simple but effective things you can do without being too dramatic. This should also be at the forefront of the minds of event organisers and tour operators.
There are services such as those provided by familysafeholidays.com to help families in the event of an emergency whether it relates to missing documents, medical issues or a missing child. The basic package is free and they provide help, advice and accessories to help keep children safe on holiday, both at home and abroad. This allows you store key personal and travel information that may be needed in a hurry. You can upload a close-up photo of each family member, record any medical conditions or medication and enter all your contact details (both mobile numbers and contacts of where you are staying). In the event of an accident or incident, the family can have access to the service and be able to create a missing poster within minutes. This poster can be automatically translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German and then be made available over the Internet or sent via email to any appropriate person or organization. I know this sounds extreme as abductions are rare but children are more prone to wandering off and it may well be worth the effort for ease of mind.
Top tips for child safety and security while on holidays
- When packing your travel documents bring two recent photos of your children with you (one in your bag and one with your travel documents). This way if you get separated from your child you can show people quickly what they look like.
- Explain to children old enough to understand that they should stand still if they get lost and dress them in at least one bright article of clothing when travelling so that they can be easily spotted. When they are old enough make sure they know their full name and address. Encourage them to call you by you name rather than 'mum' or dad' if they need to call you and regularly establish close 'meeting places' if you are at a busy event. If they can remember your phone number that is great (this may not work if they are very upset when lost). Where possible use wrist bands if they are available or put a piece of paper in their pocket with all your numbers on it including the county code.
- If you are considering using a kids club while on holidays you should check carefully both before you go and while on site that standards are as you would expect, that the club is properly run and that you are happy with all of the arrangements. Ask whether all child carers are fully trained and qualified and that the club is approved for the age of your child. Check that there are appropriate levels of staff qualification, police checks, hygiene, security and safety. Check carefully the sign in and out arrangements and the arrangements for identifying children which should include name badges at the very least.
- Never leave young children alone at night. There are not only the risks of someone entering the property (very rare) but the issue of dangers such as a fire or the child going wandering or deciding to play with the electric sockets, have a bath or go out on to the balcony or the poll area. Babysitting is available in most properties or if you are with friends maybe try to eat in or alternating going out if cost or availability is an issue. Dining where kids may meet other kids or where there may be entertainment gives you a chance to have a break and spend some time together while the kids are happy.
- Be very aware of the dangers of water and never assume that a lifeguard or someone else will be as good at looking after your own child as you. Set some ground rules with the kids as to what they can and cannot do in the pool or at the beach depending on their ability and check staff ratios if a kids club may involve some water based activities.
- Be responsible when it comes to alcohol if the kids are out with you in the evening and take turns in having a few drinks if necessary. One adult should always be sober enough to properly and appropriately supervise the children.
- On arrival take childproof your accommodation before you unpack your own things. Remove all the lovely things you used to love as traveller before kids such as chocolates and milk cartons which can be messy missiles. If your child is very young crawl around to seek out potential hazards. Bring tape to cover electrical sockets as your local domestic socket covers will not work and tie up loose wires.Remove spare phones from the connection unless you want a hefty phone bill. Check doors that might otherwise trap small fingers and secure them with a magazine or something else to keep them in place. Check everywhere for hot water and watch in particular bidets which are a favourite of the under threes as they are very accessible.
- Check for glass and any other dangers and put breakable furniture out of reach or ask for it to be removed. Check all windows to ensure they are locked and secure, especially if you are not at ground level. Balconies can also pose a danger so make sure they cannot be accessed and that older kids that can reach the doors understand that they should not go on the balcony without close adult supervision.
You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday.
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