Summer is almost over, and you need one more getaway for family fun in the sun. Before your road trip, camping adventure or international getaway, make sure to follow these simple pointers for a safe vacation! Road-Trip Ready

No summer would be complete without an aimless family exploration by car. Whether you’re heading to Grandma and Grandpa’s or cross-country to the world’s largest rubber-band ball, using a car seat for children — up to 8-years-old — is the best way to protect your little ones. Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in children and most of these injuries occur by a car crash. Every U.S. state now requires that infants or small children use safety restraints.

When choosing a road-trip worthy car seat, make sure to accept used child safety seats with caution. Used seats can be risky, even when they seem structurally sound, because long-term use affects the seat’s ability to keep your child safe. If you’re purchasing a new car seat, make sure to complete the product registration card. Filling out this card will ensure that you will be notified by the manufacturer of any recalls immediately. In the case of a recall, replacement parts or a new safety seat are often provided to you and your family.

Though seat belts were designed to save lives, air bags weren’t designed with every passenger in mind. They are installed to protect a 165-pound male from injury, making them much too dangerous for your small child. Here are a few helpful reminders to best protect your baby or toddler from an air bag injury:

  • Never place a rear-facing infant seat in the front seat of a passenger-side air bag equipped car
  • Child safety seats should always be placed in the back seat
  • If a child safety seat must be placed in the front, near an air bag, push the passenger seat as far back as possible

Set Sail, Near or Far

For larger travel plans, younger children will become especially prone to travel-related sicknesses such as foreign infections and jet lag. To prepare, make time to research your trip and have your family get required vaccinations needed for that destination.

As you pack, make sure to include ample amounts of any medications and medical supplies, such as insulin or inhalers, your family uses regularly because they may be hard to find while traveling.

You also may want to pack:

  • An over-the-counter pain reliever
  • A small first-aid kit with antiseptic, antibiotic ointment, and bandages
  • Sunscreen
  • Waterless, alcohol-based hand wipes for clean hands

Traveling with restless, cranky kids is no fun. Make sure your family has the time and energy to enjoy the beautiful scenery by following these tips to avoid jet lag:

  • Try adjusting your family’s sleep schedule two to three days before your vacation
  • Dehydration only makes the side effects of jet lag worse, so make sure everyone drinks lots of water
  • After arriving, encourage kids to be active outside during daylight hours
  • Try following the local time of your destination throughout the trip

Safe Fun in the Sun

While everyone knows the dangerous consequences of unprotected sun exposure, not many know that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that all kids, no matter their skin tone or age, wear sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30. When choosing sunscreen, the degree of protection from UV rays is crucial. Broad-spectrum sunscreen will not only protect your family from UVA and UVB rays, but it also will help fight signs of skin aging and tanning.

Even if your family goes on a ski trip to the mountains, remember to still apply plenty of sunscreen. Because UV rays can reflect off both water and snow, your child’s probability of sunburn is still high in the winter months.

If your child gets sunburnt, follow these helpful instructions:

  • Have them take a cool (not cold) bath to help alleviate pain and heat
  • Apply pure aloe vera gel to ease skin discomfort
  • Give them an anti-inflammatory medication, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
  • Apply topical moisturizing cream to rehydrate the skin and treat itching

Pool Party Safety

Your kids need constant supervision around water — whether in the bathtub, enjoying tropical hot springs or in a swimming pool. Because children can drown in less than 2 inches of water, you should never assume that a child who knows how to swim isn’t at risk for drowning.

For summer swimming, make sure to have proper-fitting flotation devices for your child whenever they want to be in or around the water. Also, while at summer BBQs, it’s particularly easy to be distracted, so always make an adult responsible for watching your little water bugs.

Keeping Camping Fun

Nothing ruins a camping trip like getting lost, discovering your little one’s legs full of bug bites, or running out of marshmallows. Follow these useful tips to solve (most of) these problems:

To avoid being lost, encourage your kids to recognize landmarks of the campsite and acquaint themselves with their surroundings as you hike or explore.Teach them to remain where they are and stay calm if they become separated from your family. To increase visibility of your children, you should make sure to dress them in brightly colored clothes.

Another cause for concern while camping is the protection from dangerous insects. Ticks, for example, can carry several types of infection, including Lyme disease. To check your children for ticks, examine behind their ears, in the scalp, under the arms and in the groin area. To repel insects, use citronella-based products by putting it on clothing instead of skin whenever possible.

Your family also should avoid touching or sleeping near any unknown plants, as they may be poison ivy, oak or sumac. Dressing in long-sleeved shirts and pants will help you to protect your skin from exposure to plants or insects that may cause an allergic reaction. If your skin should come in contact with a poisonous plant, immediately wash it with cool water to remove the oil causing the reaction.

Before you finish packing, make sure to include these essentials in your family camping trip:

  • Map of the area and a compass
  • Flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Pocketknife
  • Matches in waterproof container
  • Candle or fire starter
  • Supply of clean drinking water
  • Insect repellent

Follow these helpful tips to keep your child healthy and happy during your time to unwind.