Enjoying your Vacation Safely

Taking a vacation again this summer?       

Many millions of Americans will be joining you in the air or on the road.      

Unfortunately, there are others (criminals) who can not wait for you to leave.      

Of course, you should also never take a vacation from safety.      

Here are some ways to have a safe vacation.

Before you go     

Keep shades and blinds in their normal position.      

Don’t stop mail and newspapers, ask neighbors to pick them up every day. This is contrary to the advice of the USPS but burglars watch for homes that get no mail for a few days and some burglars are tipped about homes with vacation holds at the post office. The same applies to newspapers of course.      

Put timers on several household lights so they turn on and off at appropriate times.      

Arrange to have the grass mowed while you’re gone.      

Make sure all your door and window locks are in working order - and use them. Activate your home alarm (if you have one).      

You might even leave a radio on - or put it on a timer. Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway overnight - anything that might suggest someone’s home. The more your home looks like someone is home, the less likely a burglar will hit your home.      

And don’t forget to lock all doors and windows when you leave.

Packing      

Preparing for a family trip requires a lot of planning. You need to decide where you’re going, where you’ll stay and how you’ll get from one place to another. You also need to decide what to take with you.      

Planning can decrease the chances of crime joining you on your journey. Here are some tips on what to take or not take with you on vacation.      

Clean out your wallet or purse before you go so you take only essential credit cards. Plan to use credit cards or traveler’s checks instead of cash.       

Carry your purse close to your body, or your wallet in an inside front pocket. Better yet, take “fanny packs” or wear a money pouch under your clothes.       

Pack as lightly as possible. Lots of heavy, cumbersome bags will slow you down and make you more vulnerable to getting robbed.       

Expensive designer luggage can draw unneeded attention to your belongings. Pack your things in inconspicuous bags.      

Keep a separate record of the contents of checked luggage. And keep anything of value such as medicine and jewelry in a carry-on that stays with you.       

If you are going on an extended vacation, consider shipping large bags to your destination in advance. For the return trip, mail bulky new purchases home, or ask merchants to do it for you or even order the product off the merchant’s Web site after you get home. You will save the problem of taking the product with you home and may not even buy the product when you get home as when you order it you will start wondering why you wanted it in the first place.

On Vacation     

While you and your family are traveling, it’s important to remember that tourists make tempting targets for thieves. Often lost or distracted, weighed down with bags, and carrying cameras, tickets and money, unsuspecting travelers attract crime like a magnet. The best advice for you and your family is to do all you can to blend in with the crowd. Here are some tips to avoid gaining the attention of criminals while on vacation.     

Don’t display expensive jewelry, cameras, clothes, bags, and other items that might draw attention.      

Check maps before you go out so you can tour confidently.       

Stick to well-lighted, well-traveled streets at all times - no shortcuts.      

Always lock your car when it’s parked, even if the stop is brief.      

Keep valuables out of sight, preferably locked in the trunk. Don’t advertise that you’re a tourist by leaving maps and guidebooks on the seat or dashboard - keep them in the glove compartment.      

And, traveling safely with your family also means sticking together and keeping an eye on your children at all times. Make sure they know where you are staying (name and address), and teach them what to do if they get lost or separated. You might want to agree on a meeting place, just in case. And by all means, make sure your kids know not to accept rides or favors from strangers.

Homecoming      

When packing for home, make sure you pack only what you need. If you have had an extended vacation, you can ship large bulky items home so you do not have problems at the airport with both the airlines (overweight baggage) and security (suspicious packages).      

For long car trips, pack what you need on top of the luggage you will not need till you get home so you have medications and other needed supplies (such as snacks for the kids) at hand/       

Of course, for travel both ways in a car, you should have a first aid kit.      

If you are traveling by bus, plane or train, have any medications you need in your carry on luggage.      

Make your next vacation memorable by making it your vacation as safe as it can be.

~ SafetyIssues Staff Writer