Have a Safe Trip: Here's How

by the Children's Hospital and Medical Center

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August is a popular month for vacationing. The sun is out, school is out, and the family is ready to get away and have fun. Whether you are planning a long or short trip, Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle offers some traveling, heat and hiking tips to help make your summer vacation more safe and enjoyable.

Remember accidents happen all the time, even during vacation:

• When traveling by car, make sure your child is strapped into a car seat at all times and the car seat is correctly installed. Don't place a rear-facing infant restraint seat on the passenger side of the front seat or allow anyone under age 12 to ride there if it has an air bag. Make sure doors are locked and everyone in the car is seat-belted.
  
  
• If you are renting a car, reserve a car seat or remember to bring your own. When traveling by airplane, children should be strapped in a car seat that has been approved by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for both cars and airplanes.
  
  

The sun is fun but it can also be dangerous:

• Avoid excessive sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use a sunscreen even on warm, cloudy days; 80 percent of the sun's burning rays will penetrate clouds.
  
  
• Use a PABA-free sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15, as recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. It is not necessary to use a sunscreen with an SPF greater than 30.
  
  
• Apply a creamy children's sunscreen a half-hour before going outside for the greatest effect. Use sunscreen whenever your child is outside and re-apply every 60 to 90 minutes. Sunscreens are not as waterproof as advertised, especially if children are in and out of the water frequently. Dry skin before re-applying.
  
  
• Keep children younger than one-year-old out of the sun as much as possible. Babies can burn even in indirect sunlight. Dress your baby in lightweight, light-colored clothing, and always cover the head. Do not apply sunscreen to children under six months of age.
  
  
• Select sunglasses (not toy sunglasses) for infants and children that protect them from ultraviolet (UV) rays. Choose glasses with unbreakable plastic lenses. For children who won't wear sunglasses, baseball caps and sun visors are good options.
  
  
• Do not allow children to exercise outside for more than 30 minutes at a time when temperatures reach 90 degrees or more and humidity is high.
  
  
• Make sure children get plenty of fluids. Water is best before, during and after prolonged activity. Encourage a "cooling-off" time in the shade if possible.
  
  

If your trip involves a hike, be prepared and consider the following helpful tips:

• Give your child a plastic whistle to carry (to blow if lost). Have each child carry their own personal backpack with the following items: poncho or plastic trash bag with pre-cut face hole, a jacket, water (at least one quart per person for short hikes), extra socks, hat, sunglasses, and nutritious snack.
  
  
• Carry a first-aid kit, children's acetaminophen, extra food, candle, matches, pocketknife, flashlight, map, compass, sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellent, toilet paper and plastic bag to carry it out. Consider taking an emergency blanket, magnifying lens, pencil and paper to record sites on long hikes.
  
  
• Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. Expensive hiking boots aren't necessary, but a well-built leather sneaker with ankle support is recommended to help avoid falls and twisted ankles.
  
  
• Plan on traveling at a slower pace than you would without children. Establish rules for keeping together, and consider assigning hiking buddies if the group is large.
  
  
• Schedule frequent stops for a drink of water. Impress upon children the danger in drinking any mountain stream water, no matter how clear.
  
  
• Adjust goals to children's ages and abilities. A short walk is best for pre-schoolers; while older children may enjoy the challenge of longer hikes. Start early in the day and be patient.
  
  
• Be alert for signs of exhaustion, hypothermia (chilling) and hyperthermia (overheating). Wear layers of clothing that can be easily removed and kept dry.
  
  

For a free handout on "Summer Safety Tips for Children" or more information on any of these topics, call Children's Hospital Resource Line at 206-526-2500. A Children's Hospital pediatric nurse is available to discuss your questions confidentially daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. at no charge.

Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle, Washington is the regional pediatric referral center for the Pacific Northwest, providing comprehensive, specialized medical, surgical, dental and psychosocial services for children ages birth to 21 in Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

Celebrating 90 years of caring for Northwest Children, 1907-1997

CONTACT: Susan Gregg-Hanson, 206-368-4821, or Dean Forbes, 206-368-4817, both of Children's Hospital & Medical Center