• To avoid sunburn, wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every two hours and keep children in shady areas.
• Make sure kids are hydrated and look for signs like thirst, fatigue, dizziness, and dark-colored urine.
• To keep bugs at bay, use insect repellent and avoid heavily wooded areas.
• Avoid heatstroke by providing plenty of shade and hydration.
• Food poisoning can be prevented by teaching children the importance of handwashing, checking the temperature of cooked food, etc.
Summer vacation is a great time for kids to learn, explore and have fun. But it’s also important to be aware of potential emergencies that can happen when you’re away from home. As a parent, it’s your job to plan ahead and take precautions so that you can keep your family safe. Here are a few of the most common emergencies to watch out for while traveling with kids:
Sunburn
It’s easy for kids to get sunburned when they are outside playing or swimming in the pool all day. To avoid this problem, make sure your children wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every two hours, even on cloudy days. Also, keep them in shady areas as much as possible and make sure they have hats and sunglasses to protect their eyes from UV rays. Don’t forget to check their skin periodically for any signs of sunburn or heat rash.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a common emergency among children, especially in the summer when the weather is hot and sunny. Make sure kids are drinking enough water throughout the day and pack extra water bottles in case of an emergency. It’s also important to look for signs of dehydration, such as thirst, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and dark-colored urine. If you suspect dehydration, give your child plenty of fluids and seek urgent pediatric care. The health professionals in the pediatric care center can do a quick evaluation to ensure your child is hydrated and feeling better. They can also provide advice on how to prevent dehydration in the future.
Insect Bites and Stings
Bugs can be pesky during summertime outings! Keep bugs at bay by spraying insect repellent on clothes before leaving home, avoiding heavily wooded areas where insects like mosquitos often live, applying sunscreen first before applying bug spray as some bug sprays may contain ingredients that increase sun sensitivity, wearing long-sleeved shirts when possible and checking for ticks after outdoor activities like camping or hiking. If your child does get stung or bitten by an insect, apply a cold compress immediately, followed by hydrocortisone cream if necessary.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is another serious emergency that needs immediate medical attention—especially since it’s more common during hot summer months when children spend more time outdoors without proper hydration or protection from the sun. Symptoms include confusion/disorientation, dizziness, headache, flushed skin, nausea, rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, vomiting, excessive sweating, dry mouth/eyes/skin, exhaustion/lethargy, weak pulse, and loss of consciousness. Be sure to observe your child closely while outdoors and provide plenty of shade and hydration throughout the day!
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is another emergency that can happen while on vacation with kids—especially if they consume food from unfamiliar sources, such as street vendors or restaurants they haven’t been to before. To prevent this emergency from happening, you need to take these steps:
Teach your children the importance of washing hands
Teaching your children to wash their hands before eating and after using the restroom can help reduce the risk of food poisoning. Make sure to carry hand sanitizer with you when traveling in case there is no access to running water.
Check the temperature of cooked food
Ensure cooked food is served at the correct temperature—not too hot or cold—to avoid bacteria growth. If you’re eating out, ask your server if they can check the internal temperature of the food before serving it.
Read reviews online
Before you visit a new restaurant, read reviews online to get an idea of the quality of their food and customer service. This can help to reduce the risk of food poisoning from contaminated dishes or poor hygiene practices.
Pack a cooler with food for picnics and make sure it’s properly refrigerated
When packing picnics, store all food items in a cooler with an ice pack. This will keep the food cold and prevent bacteria from growing.
It’s essential to be prepared and take precautions while vacationing with kids. Sunburn, dehydration, insect bites/stings, food poisoning, and heat stroke are potential emergencies that can occur during summer.
To help protect your family from these risks, pack sunscreen and hats for sun protection, bring extra water bottles to stay hydrated, use bug spray when necessary, inspect any unfamiliar food before eating it, and provide plenty of shade throughout the day. Taking a few simple steps ahead of time ensures that everyone in your party has an enjoyable—and safe—summer vacation!
