When I travel, I travel to have fun, not worry about what may go wrong. Don’t you do the same?

I schedule my condo, make my airline and auto reservations, and go enjoy the trip.

But, we have all seen the movies….one with Jody Foster who lost her child, one with Harrison Ford who got amnesia and then the other day I was watching a movie with Liam Neeson where he is involved in a vehicle accident and is a bit confused about where he is.  Now, this movie did turn out much differently than I thought it would, but just the idea of getting separated from a loved one, being involved in an accident or worse, having a family member kidnapped, made me ask myself if I was prepared to deal with the emergency.

If that isn’t bad enough, a friend was in Southern California on a business trip. He succumbed to a heart attack during the night and did not wake up in the morning.  His wife usually heard from him while on the road, but not that day. She began to worry, and call and text.  By midday, housekeeping services entered his room to find that he had passed during the night. Police were called, etc…, but it wasn’t until 9:00 P.M. that the front desk clerk called his wife to let her know what had happened. Obviously, he was not carrying any sort of “In Case Of Emergency” card in his wallet. That really got me thinking about my travels; and I don’t just mean my vacation trips. Am I carrying anything in my wallet that would allow an officer to contact my wife if something happened to me if I was on a business trip, or if we were injured while jogging while on vacation?

In an earlier blog, I did talk about the medical emergency issue, but did not talk about the issue of getting separated from loved ones, under any sort of circumstance.  In fact, after writing this blog, I went back and edited the blog about the single parent traveling with a child to make sure this info was in that blog as well. Well, I decided that I wasn’t prepared, but I was going to change that immediately!

So, what do we at Team Edwards Travel suggest you do to be prepared for this type of emergency while traveling?

To start with, it has to do with carrying extra documentation while traveling.  For example, every parent, especially one traveling alone, should have a current photo of the child, or children, in their wallet or purse. It is easy to get separated from your kids with both parents watching; it is even easier when you are by yourself, in unfamiliar surroundings, away from home.

Also, make sure your children carry emergency notification information on their person.  If they are very young, then pin it inside their clothing.  Also, make sure the emergency number on said notification is the cell phone you are carrying as well as a number back home.  (If you are traveling overseas,be sure to read the cell phone blog.)

What happens if there is a vehicle accident, the lone parent is killed or seriously injured, and the authorities don’t know how to contact the other parent or guardian?  Who will take care of the child? Is there another family member on the trip that can be contacted, rather than trying to contact someone back home?

If so, make sure that that person’s contact info is on the notification document on the child.  That goes for the parent too. Do you have clear instructions in your wallet for emergency notifications? If you are injured, it is not likely that your three year old will be able to tell the authorities anything that they need to know. Do you have an “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) number in your cell phone? How about one for “Mom” or “Home” or something that a police officer may recognize to try to make contact with a loved one.

What info should be included:

1.  Your itinerary.
2.  Name of ship or hotel or condo where you are staying. (Address, phone & room number.)
3.  Emergency phone number for someone in your traveling group.
4.  Emergency phone number for someone back home.
5.  List of important contact numbers such as medical, dental, etc… with a descriptor.
6.  Medical Insurance Numbers.
7.  Photo of child with the parent, and photo of parent with child. (If traveling in a group, put all of the individual photos of everyone on a sheet of paper and xerox a copy for every person in the group.)
8.  Copy of passport.
9.  If you are traveling by ship and leave the ship to go to shore, make sure that you take the daily newsletter with you, or at least tear off that portion of the newsletter that tells you who to contact if you have trouble ashore or if you miss your ship. Each ship has an agent at each port to help you with emergencies.

For a simple “In Case Of Emergency” (ICE) card, I decided to get a package of Avery business card stock from Staples and will type up a card with my name, phone number, and emergency contact information on it.  I will then laminate it and carry it in the same slot in my wallet as I have my driver’s license.  So, if such a situation arises where a law enforcement officer is going through my wallet to identify me, he or she will also see the “ICE” card. Since there are 10 cards per sheet, there will be cards in my briefcase, suitcase, coat pocket, shirt pocket, etc… Heck, I will even use the cards as my book marks too since I always have a book with me when I travel! You may need to print both sides to get all of the info you want, so make sure to do that before you tear them apart.

We hope this blog was not a downer for you.  I just know that being prepared is always best. I would rather have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Now that we are finished with this issue, let’s relax and enjoy our vacation!

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Turning Dreams into Memories,
One Vacation at a Time.
Bon Voyage!!!

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our travels as well as from other travelers. I hope it has been of value to you.  Check out the important links below.

• Packing Checklist
• Parent Authorization Letter For Unaccompanied Minors
• Medical Treatment Authorization Letter
• Travel With Minors – Permission Letter

Don’t hesitate to email us when you return from your trip with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow travelers!

You may also want to visit our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/TeamEdwardsTravel