Have First Aid, Will Travel
Safety tips for family vacations
BY COURTNEY MCGEE
E very family has tricks of the
trade when it comes to
successful travel. And many
emerge only after getting
something wrong. Road-trip fails
have taught me: to bring the portable
training potty (lined with grocery
bags and napkins) for emergency
preschooler pit stops; to keep a trash
bag in the back seat (doubles as
a barf bag); to pretest sunscreen for
allergic reactions before investing in
a week’s supply; and to bring our
own nightlights and bedrails.

What do you need to know before
your family travels this summer?
We asked two physicians who work in
popular destinations for their health
and safety advice.

Dr. Kevin Bristowe, medical director of
emergency services at Beebe Medical
Center in Lewes, Delaware, receives
a steady stream of Delmarva coast
visitors every summer. Back, shoulder
and head injuries are common when
beachgoers are not watching the surf.

“They may turn their backs for a
minute and be knocked down,” he
says. “There are also a number of
people treated for neck injuries from
diving in shallow water.”
Experienced pool swimmers should
stay vigilant of the different dangers
that ocean swimming presents. “Know
your surroundings, pay attention to
waves, swim in areas supervised by
a lifeguard when possible, and don’t
dive into unknown water,” Bristowe
48 June 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com
cautions. Other obstacles to avoid
include bodysurfers, boogie boarders,
sandbars and fishing lines.

“Fishing from the beach at the
(Delaware Seashore State Park) is
a great activity. However, this is a
surfing beach, and often fishhooks
can be lost here. When wading in the
surf, it is a good idea to wear a water
shoe or other protection for your
feet to prevent being cut by an old
hook or other sharp metal object,”
Bristowe says. “You may also need
a tetanus shot.”
Cycle safely
It’s fun — and good exercise — to
ditch the car for smaller wheels at the
beach, but it is important to dress and
gear up appropriately, Bristowe says.

“Numerous injuries are caused simply
because a cyclist isn’t wearing a
helmet. Flip-flops can get caught in
pedals or chains and cause you to fall.”
Beach-bound cyclists should wear
sneakers or other shoes that protect
their feet. “If you are riding at night,
wear light-colored or reflective
clothing,” Bristowe says. “Be sure to
have a light so you are visible to
motorists.” And he adds, stay alert
— don’t wear headphones and don’t
text while cycling.

“Remember, cyclists are to follow the
same rules that drivers follow. That
means stopping at stop signs, signaling
before turning, etc.,” Bristowe says. Of
course, parents can get their children
to wear helmets by wearing their own
as well.

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Watch the water