If you plan to let your children travel with a friend or family member this holiday season, there are a few things you should do to prepare for the trip. It may come as a surprise, but there are parents who do not take proper precautions when sending their children off for a special trip. Do not be one of them!

Before letting your child leave make sure you have checked his or her bag for the right clothing for area they will be traveling to. Find the zip code, and then plug it into an online weather site for current temperatures and local information. Pack accordingly and be sure to include a few extra outfits that are a bit warmer or cooler than you think they will need.

A small first aid kit in a pocket or pouch of their carrying case can help if your child gets a small cut or scrape. It is comforting for a child to know his parent has even a small scrape ‘covered’. A good kit for a kid contains:

Bandages, several sizes.
Antiseptic wipes.
A small tube of ointment.
Small tube of anti-itch cream.
Several travel packs of acetaminophen. (for older children)

Some antibiotic creams include a pain reliever. Most are reasonably priced.

In a zip top bag include emergency contact information. If your child has an ID used for transportation to and from school that includes a picture, send that. If you have one of the child IDs used for missing children, one of these can be used. Include an index card with your home address and all contact phone numbers. If you can have this laminated, do so. Give a smaller copy to your child to carry in his or her pocket.

On your refrigerator, place a list of the information for your child’s location. Phone numbers, town name, zip code, and if applicable, the cell number of who they will be traveling with. Never, ever let your child leave without this information. Also, try to find local hospital numbers, along with the law enforcement numbers in that area.

Write a consent form to have your child treated in case of an emergency, as well. On this consent form include your phone numbers so doctors and hospital staff can reach you. Safety is key to a happy holiday and travel during this season. Be safe and enjoy your holidays without the worry of being unprepared.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 1st, 2008 at 9:43 am and is filed under Holidays, Parenting, Personal Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.