Have a safe trip -- coming and going and on vacation

The countdown is on in many households because for a lot of children summer means one thing -- vacation!

Whether traveling to Disneyland or Grandma's house, having fun on vacation is always in the plans. But to help make sure good times are had by all, parents need to make travel safety a priority, too.

Safe Kids Yakima County recommends the following travel tips to keep your family safe:

Airplane safety

While flying is still considered the safest way to travel long distances, there are important safety rules that need to be remembered and implemented.

* Child restraints: Just as in cars, children weighing less than 40 pounds should be restrained in an approved car seat. Check the label on the side of the car seat to make sure that it carries FAA certification and is "certified for use in both motor vehicles and aircraft." It has been my experience that both child and parents are more comfortable if the child is in his or her own car seat.

* Booster seats: Avoid using booster seats on a plane, as they can only be used with a lap and shoulder belt system. Do bring your booster seat for use in the rental car when you arrive at your destination.

* Seating: Check with the airline to see if your child qualifies for a discounted seat. Purchasing a separate ticket for your child will add to the price of your trip, but will help protect your child from serious injury if the airplane encounters sudden turbulence.

For more information about child passenger safety on airplanes, visit the "Flying with Children" page at www.faa.gov/passengers.

Car safety

When traveling by car, always bring your child's car seat or booster seat. Babies should be kept rear-facing for as long as their car seat allows, usually to about 30-35 pounds depending on the model -- but at least until age 1 and 20 pounds. A forward-facing car seat can protect older toddlers up to 40 pounds or more depending on the weight limit for the harness (check the owner's manual to determine weight limits).

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital's Community Education Department provides car seat checks to the community in which a certified child passenger technician will teach parents about proper installation and car seat safety. Call 509-388-1964 to make an appointment.

While we all end up bringing a lot of "stuff" when we go on vacation, it's important to remember to keep it safely stowed away while driving.

Juanita Silva, a certified child passenger safety technician, says, "In addition to making sure all occupants are buckled appropriately every time you drive, it's also important to make sure all loose items are secure, so that they don't become projectiles in the event of a sudden stop or crash."

For more information about car seats and child passenger safety in general, visit: www.usa.safekids.org/skbu.

Safety at your destination

No matter where you will be staying, planning ahead involves packing appropriate gear for your children. If your child will be biking, riding a scooter, rollerblading or skateboarding, make sure to pack a helmet that is appropriate for the activity and that fits your child properly.

If you have a baby and the trip involves staying overnight, bring your own folding playpen if possible, rather than relying on borrowed cribs. In several surveys taken from 2001 to 2006, Safe Kids Worldwide found many hotel-issued cribs to be defective, damaged or even recalled from the market. If you must use a hotel crib, Safe Kids recommends that you inspect the crib carefully for any broken or missing parts and look up the crib model on www.Recalls.gov to make sure it isn' t subject to any safety notices.

For additional information about crib safety, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov or call 800-638-2772.

Remember too, general home safety for kids, especially toddlers and crawlers.

"If your vacation includes a stay at a relative or friend's home, make sure you plan ahead and talk to your host about the possibility of installing age-appropriate safety devices such as cabinet locks or outlet covers to prevent injuries to your kids," says Brianne Baron, Safe Kids Yakima County coordinator. "This is especially true when visiting people whose children have already grown or those without children."

* Kurt Tyrrell is the Passport to Health program coordinator for Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and a member of Safe Kids Yakima County.

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