3 Road Trips You Must Take Before Your Kids Grow Up
School is out and summer is the time when families hit the road together for that memorable family vacation. As you plan your road trip and route your destinations, make sure your car has the appropriate first-aid and emergency kit contents and do a maintenance double check to ensure your car is in tip-top shape for the open road.
Ever since I was little, I have always looked forward to vacationing with family and friends. Growing up, we took a lot of road trips because we lived in a very central location to many awesome places. Sure, flights will get you to your destination in a more convenient and sometimes cheaper way, but road trips are a perfect family bonding experience. Check out three road trips across America that you should take with your kids before they are too old to enjoy playing “I Spy” in the car.
Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. is the perfect road trip for kids because it combines learning with fun. There is an abundance of museums, monuments, attractions and sporting events available in D.C. for your whole family to enjoy. There are so many kid-friendly attractions that offer hands-on experiences.
What to See and Do: Smithsonian Museums, American Art Museum, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of the American Indian, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, The Korean War Veterans Memorial, Pentagon Memorial, The National Zoo, The National Archives, The International Spy Museum
Road Trip to the Coasts
I have very fond memories of enjoying summers at the beach. Whether you decide to road trip it to Florida, the Carolinas, or California, you are bound to have some fun in the sun. The great thing about going to the beach is that they are in abundance across the U.S. so you can choose the one closest to you. Just grab your swimsuit, sunscreen and sunglasses and be a beach bum with your family!
What to See and Do: the ocean, mini-golf, outlet shopping, ice cream shops, the pool, seafood restaurants, ocean activities: parasailing, kayaking, banana boat rides, scuba diving, dolphin watching
Disney World or Disneyland
Who doesn’t love Mickey and Minnie? While you can enjoy Disney at any age, there’s nothing like seeing your child’s face light up when they see their favorite Disney character in person. Visiting Disney World and Disneyland can be quite an expensive trip, so opting for a road trip instead of flying can save you a lot of money and help you cut some expenses. The Disney experience is a trip that your family will never forget!
What to See and Do: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, character experiences, water parks, restaurants, shows, parades.
Be Sure to Prepare
So, in order to make a road trip successful, proper planning ahead and smart packing is important. Because you will be spending a lot of time in your car with your family, you should bring safety items like an emergency kit as well as snacks, blankets, and items to keep your kids entertained. You should make sure that your kit includes first aid items as well as items like a flashlight, whistle, and jumper cables as well as a spare tire in case your car breaks down.
Everyone loves an adventure but surprises on the road are better handled when you’re in control. Before you hit the road, make sure to pack an emergency kit stocked with all the vital First Aid and lifesaving tools you’ll need when seconds count. Our prepareme kits come in multiple kit sizes, so you’re sure to find one that suits you, your spouse and even any teen drivers in the house.
Rest and Relaxation v. Drowsy Driving
Be sure that you get proper rest before getting on the road, because long periods of driving can cause you to be drowsy. Also, try to make sure there is as least one person awake with the driver to keep their mind occupied to stay safe and prevent accidents. A good option to have in your car is an alertme “stay awake” device that can help alert you if you dose off. The alertme is also included in some of the kits.
Now that you’re fully prepared and inspired to take the road trip your kids will be talking about for years, take a photo of your family with your resqme tool, use #resqme, and show us what’s on your keychain!
Happy road tripping!
Author: Samantha Tung handles online media relations for Caliber Collision. She regularly produces content for a variety of lifestyle and automotive blogs, and in her spare time, she enjoys taking road trips and traveling.
- Published in Auto Safety, Emergency Preparation, Family Safety
Turn Around, Don’t Drown: Flood Safety Escape Steps
Flood Safety Awareness
Recent flooding around the country claimed the lives of many folks who potentially had very bright futures. Flooding can happen in an instant, quickly overtaking your car, but often people ignore road closure signs and drive into flooded roads at their own peril. And when your vehicle becomes stranded in water, it can be easy to panic and make a deadly mistake. Do you exactly what to do if you’re vehicle loses power in the water? Follow these exact steps and share this lifesaving message with your community.
Know the Facts and How to Escape
Keep a resqme tool on your keychain or a resqhammer within reach – you never know when you might save a life!
- Published in Auto Safety, Driver Safety, Emergency Preparation, Flood Safety Awareness
Six Lurking Dangers in Your Garage that Could be Deadly to Your Family and Pets
Your garage can be a killer! That’s an attention-grabbing claim, isn’t it? However, it’s not an exaggeration from a safety freak. It’s the truth, as statistics sadly show. People die in garage accidents all too often. Severe injuries are even more common. These tragedies are preventable. Here are six common causes of garage accidents and how to keep them from becoming a problem.
Does your garage look like this?
1. The Garage Door
The door is the most common culprit in garage accidents. According to statistics from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 30,000 injuries are caused by garage doors each year, and some of the injuries result in death. What can you do to prevent becoming part of these garage accident statistics?
- Make sure your garage door system has an automatic reverse that causes the door to open if it strikes anything while closing
- Never try DIY repair on garage door torsion springs because they can snap or uncoil rapidly with tremendous force
- If opening the door manually, use the door handle rather than pulling down on a panel edge which can lead to crushed fingertips
- Choose a door with finger-trap protection in its design
- Install a door with a safety device that stops the door from falling if a torsion spring breaks
2. Carbon Monoxide
CO is doesn’t have an odor, so it can kill you before you realize you’re being poisoned by it. Here’s how to prevent problems:
- Never warm up the car in the garage, even with the garage door open
- Never shut the garage door before you turn off the vehicle because it’s possible to fall asleep, for example, while listening to that last great song or two when arriving home late at night
- Install a carbon monoxide monitor in the house on a wall adjoining the garage and in living space above the garage
- Never run a generator or other gas-powered equipment in the garage
3. Gasoline
Gas spills in the garage or escaping fumes from a gas storage container can cause explosion or fire. They can be prevented with these tips:
- Store gasoline outside or in a shed and only in approved containers
- If you see that gas has dripped from your vehicle, have the leak repaired immediately
- Fill gas-powered equipment outside rather than in the garage
- Never install a gas-fired furnace or water heater in the garage because gas fumes can reach the ignition flame and explode
- Follow these tips for any flammable liquid such as kerosene and paint thinner
4. Your Vehicles
Young kids like to play in cars. However, it may be possible for them to climb into the car and lock the door without being able to unlock it. Disaster can result, especially if the garage is hot or the keys are left in the vehicle and the child starts it. Here’s how to prevent problems:
- Keep your vehicles locked, and you won’t need the other tips
- Don’t leave your keys in the car
- Keep a tool handy like the Resqme Quick Car Escape Tool that will allow you to break a vehicle’s window to save a trapped child
5. Clutter
Did you know that people have been injured and killed by falling clutter in their own homes? It happens more often than you might imagine. Clutter can cause trips and falls too. Here are a few ideas to prevent this danger from striking in the garage:
- Have a garage sale, and make a few bucks while improving garage safety
- Move excess gear, tools, toys and equipment to a shed or storage facility (rather than to the basement, where the same clutter problems can develop)
- Don’t allow kids to play in the garage unattended
- Don’t stack boxes and bins high enough to become a toppling problem
- Install bright lights, so you can see where you’re going and what’s on the ground in front of you
- Keep kids’ toys elsewhere or on or near the ground, so children won’t be hurt trying to pull them down from a shelf or hook
6. Chemicals your Pet Might Like
Let’s not forget our little friends in this discussion! Engine coolant, road salt and ice-melting granules are poisonous, but some pets like the way they taste. Keep your furry friends safe with these tips:
- Keep your pets out of the garage
- Use towels, sawdust or kitty litter to absorb and remove spills
- Have your car serviced if it is leaking coolant
- Wash your car frequently in winter
- Remove salt from the garage floor with a hose or mop and water
An Ounce of Prevention can Keep you Safe from Garage Accidents
An organized garage is a safe garage
You know the old saying, right, so take preventative measures today by using this guide as a checklist. An organized garage is a safe garage and you’ll be making your garage a safer place for adults, kids and pets too.
Author: Matt Milstead is a blogger and writer from Australia interested in and covering topics related to safety. As the father of a toddler, Matt enjoys nothing more than getting away from work and spending time traveling with his family. He can be reached on Twitter via @mattmlstd.
- Published in Family Safety, Safety Awareness
Could Your Child’s Car Seat Save Their Life?
Fitting Your Child Correctly in the Car Seat
Although the laws concerning child car seats will vary between Western countries, they are all set out with the common purpose of maximizing the safety of young children, particularly in the event of a crash. The type of car seat that is most ideal for your child will depend on his/her age and physical development. A baby in the first year of his/her life should always travel in a rear-facing car seat, as he/she will be pulled into the seat with minimal impact on his/her neck or spinal cord in a crash. Thereafter, the child can be placed in a forward-facing seat and latterly a booster seat as he/she grows older and bigger, until such time that a normal seatbelt can fit snugly across their shoulder and chest. A seatbelt should never cross a child’s neck or face, nor rest on his/her stomach, as these could be lacerated in a crash.
This infographic from Woodstock Motors dispenses hugely important safety advice relating to the selection of a child car seat, as well as offering tips on what to look out for when purchasing one. It sets out to inform parents and guardians that not all car seats are created equal, and by selecting the one that is the best fit for your child, it may just prove the difference between life and death if you and your children are unfortunate enough to be involved in a car crash.
Author and source: Mark Dressekie with http://www.woodstockmotors.co.uk/repairs.html
- Published in Auto Safety, Driver Safety, Family Safety
National Child Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention and Awareness Day – How to Rescue a Child Left in a Hot Car
On average once every nine days a young child dies due to heatstroke in a vehicle. As part of National Child Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention and Awareness Day, we remember these children and try to educate other families on the dangers of leaving a child in a car alone.
USA child vehicular heatstroke deaths
Stress, new parenthood and schedule changes can equal forgetfulness
Unfortunately, due to stress, changes in a schedule or distractions, we hear stories where a parent or caregiver has unknowingly left a child alone in a vehicle. Sadly, we also hear of many stories where the parent intentionally left the child in the car for a few minutes while running errands. Sometimes a parent driving on “autopilot” can actually lock and leave their car, forgetting the sleeping baby or toddler in the back seat. If it seems unbelievable, it is actually a that cycle continues year after year as the auto industry refuses to add simple, existing driver-reminder technology to their vehicles, and refusing to test new lifesaving options.
“The worst thing any parent or caregiver can do is think that this could never happen to them or that they are not capable of unknowingly leaving their child behind,” says Janette Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org, the leading national nonprofit child safety organization working solely to prevent injuries and deaths of children in and around motor vehicles. “This can and does happen to the most loving, responsible and attentive parents; no one is immune,” Fennell said.
Stories in the news recount parents who actually forgot they left the child sleeping in the backseat.
Vehicular heatstroke – there is no safe temperature to leave a child inside a car alone
Summer approaches and already nine children have died from vehicle related heatstroke. That’s a 225% increase compared to last year at the same time. Since 1990, more than 750 children have died in such preventable tragedies. An average of 37 children die every year from vehicular heatstroke. Numerous states have enacted “Good Samaritan” laws protecting people who break a window to save a child locked inside, on the verge of heatstroke.
“We encourage individuals in all communities to take action if you see a child alone in a vehicle,” stressed Amber Andreasen, director of KidsAndCars.org. “Try to find the driver of the vehicle, call 911 and if the child seems to be in imminent danger, break the window furthest away from the child to rescue them.”
Carry your resqme keychain and be a ‘Good Samaritan’
You can use the resqme tool to break the window farthest away from the child. The spring-loaded device is tapped on the corner of a car window and the glass is shattered.
Look before you lock
One tip experts give is to leave a purse or cell phone in the backseat, forcing you to check the backseat before exiting and locking the car. Through KidsandCars’ “Look Before You Lock” educational campaign, they’ve distributed at least 750,000 safety information cards to birthing hospitals and new parents. This education campaign will continue, but at the same time technology is needed to prevent these tragedies.
For additional information, statistics and charts specific to child vehicular heat stroke visit http://www.kidsandcars.org/heatstroke-day.html and to purchase a resqme and donate to KidsAndCars, click the picture below:
Partner with KidsAndCars and get a resqme tool
Visit http://noheatstroke.org to find out more facts and stats about vehicular heatstroke and share with parents and community members.
- Published in Family Safety, Partners
Lifesaving Testimonial: 16-yr-old driver flips car upside down into water and escapes using her resqme tool to break the window and crawl out!
Her father sent this testimonial to us: “I just wanted to thank you for making this product. Your glass breaker saved my 16 year old daughter today. She rolled her car into a brook and the car went down and if it wasn’t for this product she may have not been with us anymore. She quickly pulled it off her keychain and broke the side window and climbed out. Thank you”
Teen survives car flipping upside down, lands in water. Escapes using resqme glass breaker tool
- Published in Auto Safety, Driver Safety, Emergency Preparation, Family Safety, Flood Safety Awareness, resqme News