Top Travel Safety Essentials for Your Vacation

Top Travel Safety Essentials for Your Vacation

Going on vacation is the highlight of most people’s calendar. You’ve worked hard all year, you’ve counted the days, and now you’re finally out. Make sure your vacation turns into a fantastic memory rather than a traumatic one by following our guide on vacation safety essentials.

Travel first aid kit

When traveling, it can be easy to forget about first aid, but in reality, it is one of the most important times when you need to take some essentials with you. Whether you are traveling abroad or closer to home, if you are in a strange place it can be difficult to locate emergency supplies quickly, especially at night.

You can buy well-stocked first aid kits from several reputable providers. You should always complement or customize them to suit your own family’s needs. Do you suffer from indigestion or heartburn? Include appropriate relief. Are you taking any prescription medications? Take enough for the duration of your vacation with a little more for unforeseen delays. Keep your medications in their original packaging so it’s easier to get new ones if something unexpected happens and you run out. Don’t forget inhalers and antihistamines, and think about motion sickness, altitude sickness, and other vacation-specific medications you may need.

If you wear glasses, it is good practice to have your prescription details with you (a copy can simply be emailed to you) in case you lose or break your specifications while you are away. This way, you should be able to get replacement glasses as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Well thought-out carry-on luggage

Even if you are not flying anywhere, you should carry a well-packed ‘carry-on’ or a relatively lightweight piece of luggage that you will carry with you throughout the trip (and even when you have arrived, in some cases). Prescription drugs, cash / cards, passport / ID, tickets are the main essentials, and don’t forget a few snacks, your phone, and some kind of entertainment (crossword books, e-reader, Game Boy, etc.). A water bottle is a must and insulated jars are a great reusable option here; Your water will stay cold for up to 24 hours in some cases.

Think of the worst situations: your luggage is separated for long periods, stolen or lost. Your ‘carry-on luggage’ is all that you will have left in a foreign country or strange place – what do you need to get where you need to go and stay safe?

Plan for the worst

On the subject of crisis planning, you need to consider how you behave when you are abroad. There is a strong temptation to let your guard down and relax in a “vacation” mood, but the unfortunate fact is that major tourist destinations are also frequently hotbeds for pickpockets and scammers. It is good practice to keep cash and cards secured on your person; money belts, neck bags, leg bags, and stash pockets are great for this. Have some pocket money available for quick access and refill it discreetly when needed. If you don’t need to carry your passport with you, please keep it in the hotel safe, along with any other valuables.

If you are going on a day trip, make sure (whenever possible) that the supplying company is licensed and reputable. Also keep copies of important contact information about yourself: your hotel number, local embassy, ​​and emergency services, for example. The more adventurous among us like to get off the beaten track, but when possible try to stay in groups – you are less likely to be a target or a victim.

Don’t forget home

In a society seemingly obsessed with social media and constant updates, it is important to think about what you are saying to people. Posting about how you’re eating pasta in Rome or surfing in Hawaii is essentially telling the world that your home is empty and likely will be for a while.

You certainly trust the ones you added to your profile, but what happens when they comment or share? So does that post get a much larger, unforeseen, and unpublished audience? Save the updates for when you return, it will be a good chance for you to relive your vacation and still be able to show off a little.

You can improve the security of your home by asking trusted family, friends, or neighbors to check your property while you’re out, installing a high-quality alarm, and using timed lighting / smart electronics to give the impression that someone is inside. If none of that works, making sure anything of monetary or sentimental value is hidden or ideally kept in a good quality safe means you won’t be coming home at a total loss.

Author Bio: First Mats began life as safety mat specialists, but has since expanded to become a full-fledged industrial and commercial supply company. First Mats’ approach is to provide safety-focused products that enhance staff well-being through quality approved products, backed by extensive knowledge. www.firstmats.co.uk