Holiday Travel Safety Checklist

The holidays can be both a joyful and stressful time of year. Families are on the go, running errands, going shopping and taking road trips to visit relatives and friends. Here are tips from Safe Kids Worldwide for keeping your kids safe during holiday travel.

• Everybody needs their own restraint. Make it a rule: everyone buckled, every ride, every time, whether it’s the long trip to visit family or around the block to the mall. Remember, kids will do what you do — so buckle up every time.
• If you are flying, take your car seat with you and use it on the plane. It will be a benefit to have it with you at your destination and when you travel to and from the airport. Rent or borrow a car seat or booster seat if you can’t take your child’s with you.
• Watch out for small kids and distracted drivers in parking lots that are busier than usual during the holidays.
• Remind your inexperienced teen driver to be extra alert during the holidays when people are more distracted and the weather can be tricky.
• Avoid distractions while driving. No text or playlist is worth the risk of taking your eyes off the road. Set your GPS to voice activated so you can concentrate on driving without having to look at your phone.
• Plan to use a designated driver or rideshare to make sure you get home safely after celebrating.
• Secure loose objects. Put hot foods, large gifts and anything that could fly around in a crash in the trunk.
• In cold states, prepare for weather emergencies by packing extra blankets,
  food and diapers. Keep your phone charged and make sure someone at your destination knows the route you are planning to take.
• Keep car exhaust pipes clear of packed snow to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
  
  

Local numbers in case there is an emergency:

1. Tennessee Poison Control Hotline 1-800-222-1222.
2. Heath Department for Covid-19 testing centers near you 1-833-556-2476
3. Police Department/Fire Department: Call 9-1-1

For more tips and resources to keep kids safe from injuries, please visit www.lebonheur.org/safekids