Stay Prepared While Traveling
The summer months are a perfect time to travel - the kids are out of school, the weather is great, and it’s a great way to spend some quality time with your family. We know you’re prepared at home for a disaster or emergency, but are you prepared while traveling? Whether you’re flying, road tripping, or going somewhere close to home, it’s important to always stay prepared for the unexpected, check out some tips below.
Always Carry a First Aid Kit
Wherever you’re traveling, be sure to carry a small first aid kit with you with items like band aids, over-the-counter remedies, and any other common items you feel you might need. Sure you may get the help you need if a problem arises, but take as much action as you can by being prepared. Afterall, at the very least it can help you feel much more comfortable and at-ease when traveling. Did you know our TWDZPAK includes several emergency and first aid supplies and doubles as a water bottle? Check it out here.
Keep Emergency Cash and Back Up Cards
When you’re traveling it’s important to have back up cash and credit cards in case your belongings get lost or stolen. Remember the unexpected happens at the worst times, prepare yourself from as many situations as you can. Stay prepared and make sure you have the means to get your family home.
Have Travel Insurance
A great preparedness step you can take is to get yourself and your family travel insurance. Travel insurance will cover you in case you or a family member gets injured, your belongings get stolen, in many cases of emergencies, if you have to head home early, or if there are any unforeseen cancellations in your itinerary. If you can, try to get a high coverage limit on your policy that also covers emergency evacuations or care if you happen to be hiking in the woods.
Mosquito Protection and ZIKA Awareness
Mosquitos are everywhere in the Summer, but areas near water are their favorite place to hang out. If you’re traveling to an area you believe might have some sort of mosquito population, it’s important to wear bug spray repellent and to wear long pants and shirts in order to protect your skin from bites. Usually, you’ll just get an uncomfortable lump that can itch, but will go away in a few days. Right now however, there is an outbreak of Zika Virus that you have to be very careful about if you’re traveling anywhere in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and The Pacific Islands. There also have been cases in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida. It is often advised that pregnant women should NOT travel to those places - the most common effect of the Zika Virus is severe birth defects of unborn children. If you are traveling to these places use powerful bug spray, and again, wear long pants and shirts, sleep with the air conditioning on and make sure there are screens on every window. Zika is extremely dangerous and should be avoided as much as possible.
Have fun and stay safe for the remaining of the summer!
Stay Prepared While Camping
Make sure your family is prepared for this year’s camping trips. Camping is a great way to spend time with family and take a break from city and suburb life. It can be truly relaxing to be away from the hustle-and-bustle of daily life and spend a few days in nature. We must keep in mind that danger lurks in unexpected places.
While in the outdoors, there are a few camping essentials we feel you’’ll need to make your trip as safe and prepared as possible:
Water
The number one thing you don’t want to run out of when you’re camping is safe drinking water. The easiest way to transport water to your campsite is with a large reusable container (5 to 10 gallons) that you fill up prior to heading into the outdoors. Remember to always bring more water than you think you’ll need. You can then conveniently fill your TWDZPAK water bottle throughout your trip with the larger container of water. The TWDZPAK even has a handy carabiner attached so you can hook it to your backpack or belt loop as a reminder to stay hydrated! It is easy to get dehydrated when spending all day outdoors, make sure to keep your TWDZPAK water bottle with you at all times.
Shelter
When camping outdoors you’re going to want to have some kind of shelter whether it be a tent, tipi, or hammock. Shelter is important because it keeps you out of the elements and away from potential threats coming into your camp. Remember to zip your tent up securely to keep unwanted bugs and critters from entering.
Food
Campfire cooking can be a fun and tasty experience. Having all kinds of food when you’re camping is one of the best parts of adventuring outdoors because almost anything tastes better after a long day of exploring. Items like trail mix, protein-packed snacks, and sandwiches are great ways to fuel up during the day, and don’t forget the s'mores!
Emergency Supplies
Safety is of course critical when out camping and adventuring in nature. Most campsites are far away from hospitals or even cell phone service, so your safety will depend on how well you prepare ahead of time. Having an emergency kit with an extensive first aid box is a non-negotiable item to include in your trip. (Good thing our TWDZPAK is filled with supplies too!) You’ll want to also include extra supplies for burns, cuts, and bug bites since they are the most common injuries when camping.
Having everything you need is essential to a successful camping trip. It’s just you and your supplies out there so make sure you are prepared for any situation that may come your way. We’re fans of camping here at First My Family, stay safe!
View our TWDZPAK in this 2016 Summer Gift Guide via Rebate Zone and pick one up today on our online shop!
Pet Preparedness Tips for Summer
According to recent statistics, about 77 Million people in the US include dogs as part of their extended family. Dogs are great companions for both indoors and outdoors activities. Whether it’s a trip to the beach, camping, hiking, or even just out to the park, pups love every second of being out-and-about. Taking dogs along during summer trips can be fun and memorable, but make sure to consider their safety and well-being during the sizzling summer months.
Our dogs can’t tell us when they are getting too hot, too tired, or are generally uncomfortable. This prompts the need for us to prepare for the many unforeseen emergencies that may occur when outdoors, for both you and they could be affected by them. Be aware of how to care for your pets during these long hot days, here are some tips on summer outdoor pet preparedness.
Water & Snacks
If you are outdoors all day you’re going to want to have some pet food on hand to give your dog a snack when they feel fatigued. Remember, just like humans get hungry from using up energy while outdoors, our dogs do too! It is also very important to give your dog access to plenty of water to drink during outdoor activities. Having a collapsable water bowl or plastic tupperware to fill with water for your pup is an easy way to help with their hydration, make sure that’s added to your Pet Prep Kit.
Keeping Cool
Of course, summertime means it is likely to be hot hot hot! While humans are able to wear summer clothing and go out for fresh air, our dogs are not able to take off their fur coats. So, it’s up to us to make sure they aren’t getting overheated. To keep help keep them cool, again, make sure they are getting plenty of water, and be sure to never ever leave them in a hot car (overheating happens very fast). Also, don’t be opposed to a little mid-day water spritz, if they are getting too hot, spray them lightly with some water since water helps to cool their internal body temperature. Lastly, keep a lookout: signs of heat exhaustion include heavy drooling, panting, very low energy, and little to no urination.
LED Light or Collar
Summer nights can be very relaxing for all family members, even pets. When outside during those summer BBQ’s or camping trips, it’s a good idea to attach an LED light to your dog’s collar so you can keep an eye on them when the sun has gone down. Remember that dogs love to explore and can get lost very easily especially if they don’t know the way home. Having a light on them will keep you from losing track of them in case they get distracted by any number of things. It also may be a good idea to keep an extra collar and LED light in your Pet Prep Kit.
Critter Control
If you are spending any time outdoors, keep in mind that you may be inevitably accompanied by uninvited animals, reptiles, and insects. The summer months bring dry, hot temperatures which happen to attract a plethora of critters. Consider getting a rattlesnake vaccine from your veterinarian, and keep plenty of insect repellent in your dog’s prep kit. Dogs love water activities, If your dog goes swimming in a beach or lake, you’ll want to make sure you dry your dog’s ears afterwards, especially if they’re floppy. Keep in mind that ear infections are very common in dogs, keeping ears dry is the first step in prevention. Lastly, always check for ticks after coming home from an outdoor trip. Even if your dog takes a flea and tick solution regularly, one could still latch on, so it’s important to make sure.
Summer is an amazing time to have lots of fun in the sun with the entire family, that includes our pets. Make sure everyone is safe and prepared!
5 Emergency Preparedness Tips from Dad
Just in time for Father’s Day, we wanted to honor all those amazing dads out there who prepare their families for emergency situations through sharing the skills and knowledge needed to stay safe. Over the years, our Dad knew when something was on our mind, what to do to make us feel happy when we were sad, but also shared the importance of being prepared. Our dad continuously shared what steps to take in order to prepare for a disaster, so here are a few preparedness tips we’ve learned from the head of our household.
Make a plan with your family before disaster strikes
Always have a plan for your family before an emergency occurs so when one does you know exactly what steps to begin taking. Have a location and connection plan so you’ll know how to reconnect with your loved ones. Dad always said having a point person who lives out of the area to check in with is a good idea because making long distance calls are usually easier to do in a location-based emergency.
Have a Kit and Know What’s In It
It’s not enough to just have a disaster preparedness kit on hand if you have to know its contents or how to use them. The last thing you’re going to want to have to do in an emergency is figure out how to use your equipment properly. Familiarize yourself now and you won’t be sorry later. Take a look at our survival kits here.
Prepare For Pets
Pets are part of the family too and our dad always made sure to prepare for them ahead of time as well. You’ll want to customize a prep kit for them that includes food, leashes, bedding, and anything else you think they will need to evacuate the home.
Prepare an Emergency Contact Card for Each Family Member
Having an emergency contact card that you put in your wallet or purse can be very helpful and potentially lifesaving in any sort of emergency. For small children, a contact bracelet may be a good idea. Make sure the contact card includes all past medical history, allergies, as well as a local and out of town contact. This will make sure rescue workers have all the information they need during or after an emergency situation.
Practice Makes Perfect
Another important tip that our Dad gave us is that practice always helps make a plan go as smoothly as possible. He would suggest to practice any fire, evacuation, or emergency drill at least twice a year. If you know exactly what to do in an emergency you will be able to stay focused and clear, and feel more confident in quick decision making. Remember, less stress always leads to better results.
Stay safe and happy this Father’s Day and check back for more tips soon!