What you pack for safety on a vacation depends on how you’re going to get where you’re going. It’ll be different if you’re flying, taking the train, or driving either your car or an RV. For example, if you’re driving, then you’d need blankets, extra water, food, road flares, and such, but you wouldn’t need those things if you’re flying. Read on for six general safety items that you’ll need no matter which way you plan to travel.
A Money Substitute
In the past, you would carry traveler’s checks. They were accepted nearly everywhere and were easily replaceable if they were lost or stolen. Traveler’s checks still exist, but they’re not as widely accepted. What is widely accepted is a prepaid credit card. They fulfill the same function as traveler’s checks, only they have a PIN instead of needing a signature to use. They have the same kind of protection as traveler’s checks and can be replaced nearly anywhere.
List of Medications and/or Life Alert Items
Should you or members of your family become incapacitated, then attending emergency personnel, along with doctors and nurses at a hospital, would need to know what you take and how much. They’d also need to know if you had any life-threatening allergies. It’s a good idea to keep a laminated copy of your medication list somewhere easily accessible. If it came down to it, wear a small laminated card at the end of a lanyard.
“Extras” in a Separate Bag
You might lose your luggage if you fly. Someone might steal your car from the parking lot of the motel, hotel, or resort. You could also have an accident and lose all the stuff that you have in your car. Have an extra bag that you can carry with you, and fill it with extra clothing, toiletries, prepaid cards, and/or traveler’s checks.
How to Contact the Authorities in Other Countries
In the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, you call 911. In Great Britain, you call 999. In Germany, it’s 112 for the fire department and 110 for the police. In some places, particularly those that have travel advisories, you may not be able to trust the police. So, it behooves you to know whom to call to contact the American embassy if you are the victim of a crime. Put these numbers on the same laminated card that has your medical information on it so that you can easily access it if necessary.
A Device That Supports Google Translate
In the case of an emergency, and you need to speak with a non-English speaker in a different country, you don’t have time to muck around with a paper dictionary. Google Translate may not be perfect, but it’s quick and easy and will both get your point across and give you easier communication with the other person than if you didn’t have it.
What You Leave Behind
One of the most important safety things you’ll need on your vacation is something you don’t actually take with you: your itinerary. Leave a list of where you’ll be and when with someone at home who can notify the relevant authorities if you’re overdue. A good example would be if you plan to hike in Death Valley National Park, and you become multiple hours overdue from checking in, then the person can call the right people to go look for you.
Published by: Khy Talara
