When travelling with children, you always have to expect the unexpected, like a broken leg the day before you leave for vacation. That's why travel insurance is always a good idea. Here are a few types of travel insurance you may want to look into.
Trip Cancellation
If your child gets sick and you need to cancel your vacation, part or all of your trip may be non-refundable. Trip cancellation will reimburse you for the non-refundable portion.
Trip Interuption
This type of policy will reimburse you if your trip is cut short due to one of your travellers getting sick or injured or if you need to fly home due to a serious illness or death within your immediate family.
Medical Insurance
Canadian families please note that your provincial insurance will only cover as much as the treatment would cost at home so it's recommended to purchase out-of-country coverage. Talk to your travel agent, auto association, credit card company, financial institute or even check your company insurance policy for the best option available to you.
For US families, check with your health insurance provider to ensure you're covered on a trip. Medical insurance policies are a little more complicated in the US.
Weather Guarantees
Many resorts and holiday packages in tropical destinations will provide travellers with a weather guarantee package due to weather worries such as tropical storms. Check with your resort or holiday package provider for complete details.
Other
Other insurances you may be interested in are flight life insurance, lost luggage insurance, accident insurance and even collision damage coverage for car rentals.
Health & Medical Care
If you are planning to travel to out of country destinations with children, be aware of the risks. Smaller bodies and immature immune systems make children's travel health needs important. It is recommended to consult your doctor as early as 6 weeks prior to leaving. Our goal should be to keep our children healthy and safe.
Routine & Travel Vaccines
Vaccines are very important, especially when travelling overseas. As soon as possible, it is important to consult your doctor about routine childhood vaccines and trave vaccines that are available to the age group of your child.
Diarrhea
One of the most common illnesses in travelling with children is diarrhea. For infants, the best way to prevent diarrhea is breastfeeding. Older children should follow basic food and water precautions. Eat hot, cooked foods, washed and peeled fresh fruits and veggies and drink bottled beverages from sealed containers or water that has been boiled or treated. Wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer.
Diarrhea can be serious because of the risk of dehydration. The best treatment is plenty of fluids. Oral hydration salts can be used to prevent dehydration but over-the-counter drugs such as Pepto-Bismal and Kaopectate should be avoided. Immediately seek medical attention if your child appears severely dehydrated, has a fever or bloody stool.
Accidents
Car accidents are the number one cause of death in children while on vacation. Age-appropriate carseats should always be used. Consider bringing your own carseat (safest) or renting one once you reach your destination. Drowning is the second leading cause of death in children while on vacation. Never leave your child unsupervised near water. Extra precaution should be taken by having kids wear a life vest in or near water.
Air Travel
Travelling by plane is healthy for children of all ages except newborns under two weeks. Some airlines may refuse newborns to fly so consult both your doctor and airline before attempting to fly with a newborn.
It is common for children to feel ear pain due to pressure during take-off and landing. The best way to lessen the pain is to bottle or breast feed infants, have toddlers drink from a sippy cup, give older children gum to chew or encourage them to yawn.
Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is very common in children aged 2-12. To help prevent it, have children avoid reading, looking down for long periods of time or playing hand-held games while in a moving vehicle. Children may find relief in looking out the window or closing their eyes.
Jet Lag
Jet lag affects children just as much as it affects us and will be worse when travelling across multiple time zones. Jet lag may prevent kids from falling asleep at night and may have them up unusually early in the morning. To help, encourage short daytime naps, spend as much time outside in the sun as possible and follow local time to get into the new routine.
Person-to-person Infections
Small children who have not yet received all of their childhood vaccinations are at a higher risk of catching infections from strangers. With small infants, try to minimize contact with others, wash and sanitize both you and your child's hands often and always practise proper cough & sneeze etiquette.
Malaria & Other Diseases Spread by Bugs
If you are travelling to an area where malaria is a risk, both parents and children should take drugs to prevent malaria. Malaria drugs are not 100% effective but can greatly decrease risk.
Children should wear bug spray and long pants and sleeves to avoid bug related diseases such as dengue, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis. Permethrin can be applied to clothing for added protection. Children should also sleep in a screened and/or air conditioned area.
Rabies
Children are more prone to rabies than adults. If an animal bite should occur, immediately wash with soap and water and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Be safe and happy travels!
If you'd like to find out more about how I'm going to work while vacationing in Maui, please watch the free video on the sidebar at www.discover-possibilities.com or email me directly at crystaldyck@gmail.com. I'd love to talk to you!!
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