Summer is finally here! Planning a trip? Keep our safety tips in mind as you travel to keep you and your family safe.
Before you travel
Whether you live in an apartment or a house, it’s important to make sure your home is secure and unattractive to unwanted visitors.
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Use an electric timer to have your lights turn on in the evening while you’re away. You can also use this device to turn on your TV.
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Have a trusted neighbor check on your house and pick up your mail if you are gone for more than a few days.
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Keep shades pulled down to avoid tempting burglars.
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Set up a service like Simplisafe to monitor your home 24/7.
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Unplug unused outlets to save on your energy bill and to reduce the risk of fire.
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Do a last safety sweep before you leave to ensure everything is off and secure before you leave.
On the road
Anytime you take a road trip, you should keep these safety tips in mind:
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Check tire pressure.
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Ensure you have a spare tire and tire kit in your trunk.
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Consider keeping an emergency kit that includes a flare, flashlight, blanket, and a first aid kit.
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Make sure your car maintenance is up to date. If you are close to an oil change or other regularly scheduled maintenance, it might be a good idea to get it done before your long road trip.
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Have snacks and drinks in the car to limit stops along the way. It’s most important that the driver stays hydrated.
If driving alone, you should also consider a few tips to keep yourself focused on the road:
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Have something prepared to listen to that you know will keep you awake: playlists, podcasts, or audiobooks.
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Take a break about every hour and a half to two hours. If it’s a long drive, this will give you shorter driving goals and can make driving feel more manageable.
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If you’re nervous about using rest stops off highways, find a safe destination that you know will be accessible throughout your journey (ie, Starbucks or Target).
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Stop at malls to walk around for 10-15 minutes if you’re feeling sleepy.
In the air
When flying, there are many factors that you cannot control such as wait times, delays, or lost luggage. However, you can do a few things to ease your mind and keep you safe and healthy on a flight.
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Stay hydrated. If you take vitamins, increase your intake of Vitamin C and Zinc about 24 hours before you fly.
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Make sure your most important documents and items come with you in your carry-on luggage. This way, if there are any delays with your luggage, you have the most important things you need for your trip.
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Pack at least one pair of clean underwear and basic toiletries that are approved by TSA in your carry-on luggage.
When you land
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Have a plan for where to meet your party and/or how you will get to your first destination.
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Depending on where you’re traveling, you should be aware of any common scams in the area (ie, fake taxi drivers). Research the reliable modes of transportation for that airport.
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Limit looking like a lost tourist if at all possible. Researching the layout of the airport and knowing your travel options to your destination before you land will keep you safe from scammers at the airport.
We hope all your travels are safe and fun! However, things can happen. If you have any issues that we can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to our law offices when you return.