Things that might save a life, the holiday edition :)

[JoBrodie]

I tweeted these out over the weekend and thought they might be useful here too, hope so.

'Drowning doesn't look like drowning' - take action if someone is quiet & unresponsive in water, drowning's nothing like it's often shown in films mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

Button batteries for toys can, if swallowed, cause serious injury requiring multiple surgeries or worse. With luck they're just pooed out but if one can't be found easily in clothing treat as a medical emergency until proven otherwise (scans) chimedblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/04/button-batteries-can-kill-if-swallowed/

Recognise the symptoms of sepsis sepsistrust.org/about/about-sepsis/

In hotels know whether you turn LEFT or RIGHT out of your door for the nearest fire exit, and where it is. (Ideally make sure you know the route too). Happy holidays! :) And make sure you get travel insurance.

Jo :)

Be careful of kettles, hair straighteners etc in unfamiliar environments. People who are used to being safe with these items and small children at home get caught out in hotel rooms, caravans, tents etc. Also be aware of how to keep medications safely away from children in an unfamiliar environment.

Learn how to save a child from choking and how to give child cpr

On the batteries - tape over any battery holder bits like the back of a remote control with masking tape to give extra protection that a child can’t get to them

trust your mothers instinct - even if everyone says differently to you - including medical professionals you know your child and in your gut you know whether a symptom or situation is normal and harmless or not - trust your gut!

I’ve been letting my daughter sleep with just a sheet over here recently, instead of her normal sleepsack. Last night I went in to check on her before she went to sleep, and she had turned around so much the sheet had become a rope.

Probably not a good thing to have in your child’s bed.

Oh and check your holiday apartment/house has a carbon monoxide and smoke alarm!

Don't dig a huge hole in the sand and let your child go down it please.

Move chairs & tables away from balconies on holiday, gives me the shivers thinking of kids climbing up & leaning over.

Those fancy swim up rooms that are popular these days. Make sure you lock your door and check it's locked again and again, if you don't trust your child or they are big enough to unlock it get one of those little alarms for windows or doors which go off when they try to open the door.

Over the top probably, but my son is asd and have to have eyes in my arse with him.

Always peace of mind.

I thought it was about time I bumped this again given the Summer Holiday season is well and truly upon is. Quite delighted that I've managed to do so exactly one year later :)

Happy safe hols everyone
Jo

Bumping my own thread in case anyone manages to get their new passport sorted in time to go away on holiday this year :-) Please add your tips for a safer holiday.

I would add - if sitting by an aircraft door it's not a bad idea to be familiar with how it's opened as if you do need that info suddenly that's not the best time to glance at the instruction card!

(I applied on 2 April for my passport and got it by 21 April which was fairly impressive).

Jo

On a medical type note - make sure to take evidence of any prescription medication- copy of the prescription if going abroad. It solves problems at security and customs.,Some routine drugs are controlled. In other countries so don’t rely on just being able to take them or buy when you are there. (Eg Lactulose is a prescription only medication in USA)

Take a few days spare and always hand luggage (may need a prescription of flying and too much liquid). Usefully if all goes well It also means you have a few days meds when you get back so not rushing to get a repeat.

If there is more than 1 adult with children in a place with any hazard (particularly pool, sea etc) and especially if there are several adults, we’ve always had a family policy of doing an official handover of responsibility for the child / children.
So I would say to MIL - Jenny, you have the children and she would reply ‘I have the children’.
Its what aeroplane pilots do when handing over control to the copilot and reduces the chance of miscommunication and someone thinking someone else is watching the kids when that person doesn’t realise they should be.
it feels a bit weird at first but you get used to it quickly

Forgive the re-bumping but given that lots of people might be planning to be near water during next week's heatwave the advice on drowning seems important.

Real drowning doesn't look dramatic (as shown in movies) but is calm and quiet and can happen in front of you without you realising if you don't know what to look for.

Jo

Thank you! Carefully read and noted.