Kids and Family Travel — How to Make it Safe and Fun

Warm weather and no school often means family travel time. By road or air, here are 12 tips to help you and your kids have fun and travel safe this summer.

On the Road

• Buckle up! Using seatbelts is the single most important thing a family can do to stay safe in the car.
• Check your car seat. 73 percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly, so before you leave, do a quick inventory to make sure your children are riding in the right seat and that they are installed and used correctly. Go to our website for additional tips and videos or visit one of our trained Car Seat Technicians for a free car seat inspection. Call us at (801) 662-CARS to make an appointment.
• Make sure all children ride in the back seat. The back seat is the safest for children until at least age 13.
• Don’t drive distracted. Teach kids the importance of staying quiet and calm in the car so the driver can focus. If your kids need help with something, pull over rather than try to help them while driving. Limit phone conversations and don’t text and drive!
• Never leave your child alone in the car, not even for a minute. Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children.

On a Plane

• Remember your car seat. Check to make sure the car seat is labeled “certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.” For babies and toddlers, this is the safest way to travel. If you are traveling with a child with special healthcare needs call TSA Cares at 1-855-787-2227.
• Prepare for possible emergencies. Make sure you are aware of emergency equipment or procedures that would apply to your child. If your child has a medical condition that may become an issue during the flight, make the flight attendant aware of the possibility before takeoff.
• Bring all essentials for your child in carry-on luggage. Bring enough food, diapers, medicine and other items to last through possible flight delays. This can be especially important if your child is on a special diet or medication.
• Seat your child away from the aisle. Small children enjoy exploring, but if they are on the aisle they could get hurt if their arm gets bumped by a person or serving cart going down the aisle. Some airlines require a car seat to be placed in a window seat, so be sure to call ahead when booking your flight to find out the specific requirements of each airline.

Away from Home

• When staying with family who don’t have young children, be aware that their home may not be fully safe for small kids. Be aware of dangers such as button batteries, magnets and small toys.
• Make sure family members keep any medication up and out of reach of children.
• Always supervise your children around water. If you are around open bodies of water, make sure kids are wearing Coast Guard Approved life jackets. If there are multiple adults watching kids near water, take turns being the designated “water watcher” so someone is always actively supervising.

Summer is the perfect time to get out and enjoy traveling to new places. By following these tips you can make sure the memories you make will include nothing but fun.