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Summer safety

summer safety

Keeping the kids safe on holiday.

I relax, I’m free from the shackles of the kitchen, the office…and the school run. I’m off guard when I reach the destination! And apparently that’s typically when accidents can happen. It’s particularly cruel when something does happen on holiday because as parents we work so hard and wait so long for a break. It’s precious family time together.

It’s impossible to foresee every scenario. At home we scope out our territory like army ants on a mission looking for potential tripping, falling and poisoning hazards. But on holiday it’s much harder to do. Chances are you’ve never been to the place before so as parents we try to research to ensure that the place we’ve chosen is kiddie safe and if not, we take loads of ‘stuff’ with us.

So here’s 8 great tips to help with researching ‘stuff’ to keep the kids safe on holiday:-

TIP 1 – IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING – PACK A FIRST AID KIT! 

Here’s what you might pack:-

  1. Plasters in various sizes – kids love ‘Peppa Pig’ or similar.
  2. Non-adherent absorbent dressing & bandages.
  3. Blunt first aid scissors & adhesive tape.
  4. Sterile gauze to clean a wound – clean water is a good start when cleaning a wound.
  5. Insect repellent – check age appropriate.
  6. Antihistamine cream to help soothe insect bites and stings – usually only suitable for children over 2.
  7. A clip on mosquito repeller which transmit noise (silent to us) to keep them away.
  8. Remember in treating any burns cool water is the best possible treatment.
  9. Aloe Vera Gel – for cooling skin from the heat, sunburn, superficial burns, bites, bruises. Keep it in the fridge!
  10. A gel cool pack to keep in the fridge. Apply it bumps to relieve swelling. A packet of frozen peas works well, but wrap it in a clean tea towel as direct contact with ice can cause a cold burn on skin.
  11. Antihistamine syrup for children – for children over 1 year, liquid anti histamine for MINOR reactions which is good for bites, irritated skin, stings.
  12. Thermometer – digital or tympanic are the most reliable.
  13. Paracetamol for children – pain relief for sensitive flight ears or to help a temperature.
  14. Ibuprofen for children – pain relief or to help a temperature, helpful for bruising and swelling as it is an anti-inflammatory.

EVEN BETTER, ORDER A CHILD MATTERS FIRST AID KIT STOCKED WITH ALL THE ESSENTIALS!

TIP 2 – TAKE A LIST OF EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Check out all the emergency contacts before you go. Carry these in your handbag and also pinned up at home. Make sure babysitters and grandparents know them too!:-

  • Ambulance 999 in the UK.
  • Call 112 in Europe or check for other countries if going abroad.
  • NHS 111 for free telephone advice 24 hours a day.
  • GP details whether at home or abroad.
  • Local A&E department whether at home or abroad.
  • Have you applied for your E111 essential for health care abroad.


TIP 3 – TREAT A HOLIDAY LET LIKE YOU WOULD YOUR OWN HOME

summer safety

Have a good look around for any potential hazards:-

  • Anything sharp, cleaning products, oven doors in the kitchen??
  • Can the kids climb the stairs or are there steps outside needing a stairgate?
  • Glass anywhere? – doors or tables.
  • Any prominent edges or corners they could bang their heads on?
  • Keep medicines and cleaning things out of children’s reach.
  • Move furniture away from windows, and if you have a balcony, ensure young children are supervised.
  • Tie blind cords out of reach of young children and loose flexes.
  • Children under six shouldn’t sleep on the top bunk of a bunk bed.
  • Tell your travelling companions about these hazards too, especially if they don’t have kids of their own.
  • Check out the swimming pool safety arrangements. Do they have a lifeguard? Is the pool fenced off?
  • Read the latest RNLI Water Safety advice. 
  • Know your beach flags – the safest area to swim is between the red/yellow flags. 
  • Look out for RoSPA approved accommodation.

TIP 4 – KEEP THE KIDS COOL DAY AND NIGHT

Try one of all of these for cool kids and snoozy nights:-

  • Use a shower curtain as a makeshift pool on the beach. Easy to carry. Just fill it with water and they can splash around on the sand.
  • Sleep downstairs if you can – heat rises!
  • Wash your kids hair and leave it wet. The pillow may be a bit damp but by morning it will be dry and keeps them cool all evening.
  • A cool (ish) bath before bedtime helps after a hot day.
  • Take a thermal blackout blind and keep curtains and windows shut during the day. Not only will the darkened room help your little one sleep, specialist blackout lining can help keep rooms cooler in the blazing sun.
  • Use a fan. Even better lay frozen water bottles or bags of ice in front of the fan to cool the air.
  • Choose cotton sheets wherever possible as other fabrics may retain heat or make your little one feel too warm and sticky.
  • If the room temperature is over 25 degrees, let the kids go to bed with nothing at all! Temperature may drop through the night, so you may have to re-evaluate what they’re wearing and change if necessary.
  • Keep giving them drinks so they stay hydrated throughout the day. Did you know that milk is also one of the best choices for keeping hydrated?
  • Offer ice-lollies, or even allow juice, when you might ordinarily say no. Fresh fruit and salad also counts towards your water intake.
  • At night time, it’s a good idea to always leave a sippy cup of water next to the bed.

TIP 5 – KEEPING THEM SAFE IN THE SUN

sun safetly

Kids are more vulnerable to the heat than adults and on holiday likely to spend more time outside. So:-

  • Fab tip! Cover the pram/buggy with a fitted cot sheet so that it ventilates from either side. NEVER cover completely with a blanket or sheet as it will keep in the heat.
  • Slap on the 50+ high factor sunscreen and reapply and always wear a hat.
  • Keep them covered – you won’t find an Australian kid wearing a skimpy bikini.
  • Stay indoors between 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest.
  • Avoid extreme exercise during the hot weather.
  • If the kids are very hot, try sprinkling water over their skin or clothes.
  • Take a sleepy siesta and save activity for the cooler evenings.

RECOGNISE THE SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE IN KIDS AND WHAT TO DO

TIP 6 – NEVER TAKE A LIT BARBECUE INTO A TENT

Obvious hey? But there have already been a number of carbon monoxide (CO) deaths related to caravans, tents and boats.

Watch this great ‘playmobil video’ from The Camping and Caravanning Club:

  • NEVER take a lit barbecue or disposable barbecue into a caravan, boat, motorhome or any enclosed space. Tents may seem well ventilated but they’re not!
  • Even if you’ve finished cooking on the BBQ it can still be hot so don’t move it inside, even if it’s raining.
  • Check smoke alarms are working when you arrive or take an audible carbon monoxide alarm.

TIP 7 – GET A TEMPORARY TATTOO IN CASE THEY GET LOST

Love this tip! Great for events like festivals or theme parks where you could get separated in a crowd, your child can never get lost:-

  • To create a temporary tattoo, take a fine point marker pen and write your contact number for people to call if they find your lost child.
  • When dry, apply a liquid plaster on top, such as Germolene’s New Skin Liquid Plaster.
  • You’ll have a waterproof temporary tattoo to last the day out.
  • Alternatively you can make or buy colourful wrist bands with their name and phone number.

TIP 8 – RECOGNISE A WELL-RUN BOUNCY CASTLE

Before letting your child on to a bouncy castle, spend a couple of minutes checking out the operation, says RoSPA:-

  • Is the bouncy castle securely anchored? All anchorage points should be used and if situated on hard ground, mooring straps should be affixed to solid points.
  • Are impact absorbing mats positioned at the open side of the bouncy castle extending out far enough?
  • Is there at least one person constantly supervising the children and not just collecting money?
  • Does the bouncy castle seem overcrowded?
  • Are children of different ages/sizes mixed? If the demand is great the attendant should operate a rota to avoid larger children crushing smaller ones.
  • Are children instructed to remove sharp articles of clothing like shoes, buckles and jewellery and is the rule enforced?

Above all, enjoy your holidays and stay safe 🙂 

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