Holiday Health & Safety
Holiday health
Whether you are heading off to far flung shores, or taking a day trip to Shoreham-by-Sea, there is something about holidays that seem to attract accidents. Perhaps because, according to the statistics, most accidents happen when we are not quite on the ball.
But wait! With a little planning, and awareness of your surroundings, there is no reason why you can't all enjoy a safe and happy time away together. Just pack a well equipped medical kit and check out our guide to common holiday pitfalls.
First Aid Essentials
Go prepared. As well as the basic first aid items (gauze, scissors, lint, bandages, plasters and tweezers), pop some Nurofen for Children* sachets (contains ibuprofen), Sun E45, Dettol Antiseptic Cream* (contains Chloroxylenol, Triclosan, Edetic Acid), child-friendly antihistamines, anti-diarrhoeals and rehydration sachets, appropriate insect repellent and any travel sickness treatments in the bag and you'll be ready for almost any eventuality.
Transportation issues
Children are far more likely to suffer from travel sickness than adults, so:
- Try to plan journeys around sleep times
- Make sure they are not setting off on an empty stomach, or are overly full
- Take anti-nausea treatments, bags, healthy snacks to nibble on and water to sip
- Encourage them to look straight ahead in a car or on a boat
Just because you are abroad, don't let basic safety slip. EU regulations stipulate that children under three must be in a car seat and those up to the age of 11, on a booster seat. Most airlines allow you to take your own, or investigate hiring a seat upon arrival.
Avoid accidents at the beach/pool
Children can drown in less than 3cm of water so keep a close eye on them at all times. Remember that baths may be slippier than at home, wet tiled floors can be like skating rinks and undertows and riptides can be deadly. So:
- Ensure children don't run on slippery surfaces - encourage them to wear grippy rubber-soled shoes (including on the beach to avoid stepping on glass, jellyfish etc)
- Always ensure children have appropriate floatation devices - but remember that these don't constitute life-rafts! Never leave them unattended or out of sight
- Don't let children go exploring alone; tides can come in quickly and can leave them trapped.
New surroundings
Children (and adults) are more prone to accidents in unfamiliar surroundings, so watch out for some of these common pitfalls:
- Do a common sense check of the accommodation - move loose cords and wires out of reach and check that furniture is stable and secure
- If you can, move children's beds away from the windows
- Never leave a child unsupervised on a balcony and move furniture away from the edge to eliminate the temptation for children to climb
- Be aware that glass patio doors can be difficult to see in bright sunlight or at night
Hot, hot, hot
Babies and children under four are especially vulnerable to heatstroke and sunburn, so:
- Stay out of the sun when it is at its peak - between 11am and 2-3pm
- Keep your child cool by sitting in the shade, and well-hydrated with water
- Apply a high factor suncream at least 30 minutes before they are exposed to the sun, and re-apply regularly throughout the day, particularly after swimming
- Encourage children to wear a wide-brimmed sunhat
Tummy upsets and sickness
Stomach-related illnesses account for 80% of all sickness occurring whilst on holiday**. Unfortunately, changes in water, food and new bacteria can cause upset stomachs. Try to avoid them by:
- Avoiding the tap water (even in ice cubes)
- Only buying food from places that look clean and well maintained and avoiding shell fish, undercooked meats, salads washed in local water and home-made ice-cream
- Encouraging the whole family to wash their hands well
If your child is unlucky enough to get diarrhoea or prolonged sickness, try to keep them hydrated by encouraging them to sip bottled water, and give them a child's dose of a re-hydration sachet. If you are breastfeeding, the advice is to continue to do so.
With a little planning and common sense there is no reason why your holiday should be any less hazardous than staying at home. Enjoy!
* Always read the label.
** Reference: BMRM NOP research 2002
