제  목 : Stay Safe and Healthy While on Vacation
  일  자 : 1998년 07월
  제공처 : Internet

    Stay Safe and Healthy While on Vacation
    ========================================

                             See Also:
                     Are You Traveling Abroad?
                        For More Information

   Vacations often bring on their own set of hazards and challenges--from bug
   bites to overheated cars to hotel robberies. These tips should help you
   return from a trip with only happy memories.

   Prepare Yourself Before You Go
   Here are some points to consider before you leave.

    Plan ahead. Get maps and plan your route. Know how to get around in the
    area you're traveling and what areas you should avoid. Make hotel/motel
    reservations well in advance, and confirm them just before you leave.

   Set rules for the kids. Give your kids a few basic, easy-to-remember rules,
   such as keep Mom or Dad in sight, buckle up and beware of strangers.

   Pack light. Piles of excess luggage in the back seat can block your vision.
   Only take items you really need, or ones that can be easily replaced.

   Get the car ready. Get a tune-up, and check tires, fluid levels, brakes,
   hoses and belts. Make sure you have a working jack and spare tire. Take an
   auto kit with wrenches, screwdrivers, flashlight, fuses, fire extinguisher,
   jumper cables and reflectors.

   Make your house look lived in. When you leave, put timers on lights. Park
   a car in the driveway, and ask neighbors to pick up mail and cut the lawn.

   Do the paperwork. Make a list of credit-card, traveler's-check and drivers'-
   license numbers, and keep it in a safe spot. Put luggage tags on bags; use
   only your first initial and last name, and use a business address if
   possible. Leave an itinerary that includes phone numbers with a friend or
   neighbor.

   You're On Your Way!
   The rules of safe driving shouldn't be suspended just because you're on
   vacation. Buckle up, observe speed limits, and don't drink and drive. Here
   are some more rules for the road.

     Be sure everyone is buckled up. As the driver, it's your responsibility
   to make sure everyone in your vehicle is properly restrained. Children 12
   and under are safest when they ride properly buckled up or restrained in
   a child safety seat in the back seat. Drive defensively, and don't force
   yourself to drive until you drop. According to the AAA Foundation for
   Traffic Safety, about 50 percent of fatal highway crashes involve drowsy
   drivers. Take a break every two hours.

   Car problems? Pull off the road. If you have car trouble, pull off the road
   as far as possible, turn on emergency flashers, and set up flares or
   reflectors.

   Tips For While You're There
   Since tourists are tempting targets for thieves, try not to look like
   out-of-towners.

   Familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Know where fire exits and the
   escape routes are in a hotel from your room in case of a fire.

   Keep your valuables safe. Put valuables in the hotel safe, and don't leave
   money or credit cards in the room when you're out.

  Lock up. Keep doors and windows locked--even when you're in the room.
  Also, don't tell others your room number.

   Look before you open the door. Use the peephole in the door to identify
   delivery people or maintenance workers. Don't let anyone in unless you
   were notified of their arrival. If in doubt, call the front desk to
   verify before unlocking and opening the door.

   Assess childproofing. Not all hotel rooms are kid-ready. Check out "tippy"
   lamps and glass items in the bathroom. Bring along socket covers. Also,
   check your room's water temperature to be sure it won't scald your kids.

   Stick together. Kids should hold hands in crowds. When at a busy place,
   such as a beach, designate a meeting place in case someone gets lost.

   Watch out for the sun. Whether you're hiking a mountain trail or waiting
   in line for the roller coaster, protect yourself from the sun. Take along
   wide-brimmed hats, and put on sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

   Be wise with rental cars. Familiarize yourself with the controls before
   taking the car out of the rental lot.
   Also, get a car without a rental-company logo on the bumper--it advertises
   the fact that you're a visitor.

   Finally, don't let your guard down, be alert to suspicious people, and
   never leave your common sense at home.

                   Are You Traveling Abroad?

       International travel isn't as different from domestic travel as you
       think. "People worry about diseases, such as the ebola virus," says
       Stephen Blythe, a Melbourne, Fla., family practitioner.
       "But the major cause of injury in foreign countries is the same as
       here -- automobile crashes."

       Keep your passport with you at all times. Before you enter a foreign
       country, find out how to contact the U.S. embassy in the country you're
       visiting.

       In less-developed countries, you may need to get certain inoculations
       before you go -- check with your doctor and with your travel agency.

       You may want to drink bottled water rather than tap water. Eat foods
       that are well-cooked and  served hot.

                          For More Information
                 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
                      http://www.cdc.gov/travel/travel.html
                  Provides health information for various countries.
                          U.S. State Department
                    http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html
          Provides warnings about crime and political problems in
          other countries.