Families on vacation over Spring Break have to approach the sun, surf and beach with caution... While dealing with all the safety concerns that go with children and an unfamiliar location.

To ensure a safe and fun Spring Break family vacation:

1. Do Your Research Beforehand.

Make sure your destination is safe before you leave. Check resources like:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel-health site
• Travel.state.gov, the State Department’s travel site
• The site of the local tourism board where you’re traveling
• Blogs dealing specifically with travel safety (like this one)

2. Up Your Awareness Level.

If you're a vigilant parent at home, you’re probably going to be a hyper-vigilant parent when you’re on vacation.  

However, no matter how eagle-eyed you try to be, kids can lose themselves with alacrity. To cut down on the possibility of kid loss: 

• Give the older one’s phones and have them share their location 
• AirTag your kids 
• Set geographic boundaries 
• Be particularly explicit about behavior near water, busy streets and other hazards 
• Put strict time limits on less-supervised time 
• Have a safe meetup location where kids know they can always go 

3. Protect Your Eyes.

Don’t be absent-minded about your glasses, and don’t skimp on contact-lens care. In addition:

• Pack a spare pair of glasses and extra contact-lens supplies
• Carry a copy of your formulary, if you’re lost without your glasses
• Remove contacts before swimming
• Take out your contacts before bed

4. Practice Good Water Safety.

Good water safety starts with everyone knowing how to swim. Parents and families should also:

• Stay within arm’s reach of young children in the water, and never leave them unattended near water
• Swim where there’s a lifeguard – ideally more than one. Don’t trust a lifeguard to see everything
• Adopt the buddy system
• Watch for waves and rip currents
• Avoid alcoholic beverages while swimming, driving or boating
• Wear life jackets while boating, and expect that rental boats at many Caribbean destinations won’t have enough life jackets for your entire party
• Complete a boat-safety course
• Check over a rental boat thoroughly before heading out
• Know where you’re going when boating, and ask about areas to avoid
• Avoid boating at night
• Thoroughly vet dive operators before booking
• Let someone back at your hotel know where you’re going, when you’re leaving and when you expect to be back 

5. Eat Healthy.

Being on vacation doesn’t mean abandoning good eating habits. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, plus low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, and legumes, and:

• Drink lots of water; if you’re overseas, drink only water and other beverages that are bottled and sealed
• Limit your intake of salt, sugar, alcohol, and saturated fat
• Eat food that’s cooked and served hot
• Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating ... in water you know is safe
• Avoid eating in places you feel are unsanitary – and watch out for street food (a good rule to follow is to eat where there are long lines and the food is freshly prepared to meet demand)

6. Be Careful With The Sun.

Tropical sun is stronger than New Jersey sun: fact of life. 

To prevent sun-related issues:

• Apply SPF 15 or higher sunscreen (preferably waterproof) every 30 minutes
• Reapply sunscreen after swimming
• Use spray sunscreen and sunscreen sticks with kids
• Be aware of restrictions on sunscreens; many tropical destinations require “reef-safe” sunscreen 
• Put on insect repellent over sunscreen
• Avoid direct exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest
• Keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight
• Wear sunglasses, hats, and protective clothing, like swim shirts for kids
• Avoid tanning salons pre-trip

7. Talk About Stranger Danger.

Talk to your kids about stranger danger before you leave and when you arrive. Teach your children never to talk to strangers, particularly at night, and to report suspicious behaviors to an adult.

At the same time, finding a safe play area where your children can play with local kids or children from different cultures can be a great experience for everyone. Online parent groups can help steer you in the right direction. 

8. Stop Germs And Viruses.

Experts say you’re 113 times more likely to catch a cold on a plane than at home.

To lessen your chances of catching something: 

• Wash your hands frequently (or use hand sanitizer) and cover your mouth when coughing.
• Wear socks while going through TSA to avoid fungal infections.
• Use your own pillows and blankets instead of the airline's.
• Avoid airline magazines and catalogs.
• Bring your own antibacterial wipes.

9. Watch Your Valuables.

Passport and credit-card security may get lost in the shuffle of beach bags and theme-park excursions.

• Put your passports, extra cash, and secondary credit card in the hotel safe. Don’t carry valuables with you once you check in
• Make copies of your passports and carry them with you
• Make another set of passport copies and leave them at home with a family member in case the originals are stolen
   
• Limit the valuables you bring to the beach, keep them with you whenever possible, and don’t leave them unattended on a beach towel 
• Consider buying a waterproof pouch for your phone when you swim 
• When waiting in line, wear your backpack on your chest as opposed to your back (when there’s not a baby occupying that same space, of course)

 

Source: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection