Its holiday season, and many of us with young children are escaping on our holidays before the schools break up to catch the quieter beaches. Our friends at Mini First Aid have shared their top safety tips for holidays to make sure that your holiday is happy and safe. It’s a must read.
Top tips when packing for holiday:
- Make sure you have packed any medication your child may require.
- Know how to reach medical help for both emergency and non-emergency in your destination. Save the numbers in your phone so you won’t be searching for them in a panic.
- Make sure you have adequate insurance cover for you and all of your family.
- If you plan to hire a vehicle or travel by transfer make sure that the provider has the correct car seat for your child. If not take it with you.
- Pack a first aid kit. Remember that first aid kits contain scissors so will need to go in hold luggage.
- Make sure all the adults in your party have attended a baby first aid course and would know how to manage in a first aid emergency.
Baby Proofing:
- In your accommodation make sure doorways and stairs have stair gates (you can request these from your tour provider)
- Check travel cots are substantial, have a breathable mattress and no loose bedding.
- If your property has a balcony make sure babies and young children are always supervised, and keep the door to the balcony closed at all times.
- Check highchairs are in good working order and have safety straps before using.
- Move all hazards out of reach from little hands.
Staying sun safe:
- Use shade. Keep babies in complete shade (under umbrellas, trees, canopies or indoors).
- Cover children up. Dress them in loose fitting cotton clothing with a close-weave e.g. an over-sized long-sleeved T-shirt or a sun suit specifically designed for children.
- Protect head, shoulders and necks. Use hats with a brim of at least 5cm (for pre-school children). The wider the brim the more skin will be shaded.
- Buy good quality, wraparound sunglasses.
Water Safety
- Always supervise children whilst they are in, on, or near water.
- Never leave an older sibling to watch younger children.
- Flotation devices need to be the correct size and age for your child and need to be fitted correctly.
- Do not swim at beaches where there are no lifeguards.
Sunscreen: Top Tips
- Apply a broad-band sunscreen correctly. Look for the 5 star rating when buying your sunscreen. 5 star products provide the best balanced protection against all UV rays.
- Use factor 30+ sunscreen 20 minutes before children go outdoors and reapply once they are in the sun to be sure of good coverage. Think of applying sunscreen like painting a wall with a textured surface, where two coats are almost always required for satisfactory coverage. In the same way, you may need two ‘coats of sunscreen’ for adequate protection.
- Many brands of sunscreen have special baby or toddler products, which are much gentler on the skin. Some sunscreens are coloured and make applying them fun. Test the sunscreen on a small area of the child's skin before using it to make sure there is no reaction.
- Don't forget shoulders, ears, nose and cheeks and tops of feet.
- Always use waterproof sunscreen when children are swimming or playing outdoors with water.
- No matter what the sunscreen instructions say, you should reapply every 2 hours when outdoors. Always reapply sunscreen after swimming or towelling.
If you haven’t attended a baby and child first aid class, they cost from as little as £20 and could literally save a life.
