Visiting Mexico City: 7,550 feet. Viewing the Grand Canyon: 8,000 feet. Skiing in Colorado: 8,000 feet (with some slopes going higher.) Driving up Pike’s Peak: 14,000 feet. At these elevations most children run circles around their huffing and puffing parents. But some children will show symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS), and a rare child […]
Staying Healthy At Sea
A vacation at sea offers families the best of all worlds: seeing foreign countries without the hassle of constant packing; supervised age-appropriate activities, lots of other children and, should you need it, “in-house” medical facilities. Here’s what you have to know: 1. Bring your children’s medications: A leading reason for passengers visiting ships’ infirmaries is […]
Waterfront Health and Safety
Forget the historic sites, colorful sunsets, and gourmet meals. Most children prefer swimming and water sports on family vacations. But the recreational water health and safety conditions you find at home don’t travel with you, especially overseas. You become the lifeguard for your children, and the person to evaluate health issues and the safety of […]
Motion Sickness
If you’ve never been seasick it’s only because you haven’t encountered the right storm, say veteran sailors. Worse than being seasick yourself is dealing with children who are, say parents. 1. Call it motion sickness, not seasickness. The ancient Geeks named it. The word “nausea” is the Greek word for “sea.” But motion sickness also […]
Safety and Avoiding Accidents
In a survey a few years ago, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found at least one safety problem with cribs, pools, and playgrounds in 82% of U.S. hotels randomly chosen for inspection. Overseas the risk of accidents for travelers is greater, especially in developing countries. 1. Think safety. Most accidents are preventable – but only […]
Planning Successful Family Vacations
Unreasonable parental expectations and poor planning spoil more family vacations than obstinate children. 1. Make your first goal getting away from daily routines. How many miles away or how elaborate your trip is secondary. Life at home is regimented and ruled by the clock. On family vacations, let your hair down. Give children choices. Participate […]