Getting Lost On Vacation And Human Hazards

Now that we've got broken bones, sunburn, food poisoning and drowning covered, it's time to take a look at another all too common vacation hazard — other humans.

Resort Animators And Vacation Babysitters

You and your other half are really looking forward to your family vacation, but would be immensely grateful for some quality couple time as well as family fun. You'd love to spend some time without the kids, and your hotel or resort is willing to help out with that — they have a whole program for children, and offer babysitters on site just so you can go out for dinner together at night.

I don't. I am a childhood sexual abuse survivor, and I do not leave my children in the care of strangers under any circumstances. Sexual abuse is much, much more common than stranger abduction (the other thing you are probably worried about but that is so rare that you can basically stop thinking about it right now).

How big are the chances that something “like that” will happen to your child while in the care of a stranger on vacation?

Since your children's well-being is at stake, that doesn't really matter (although, for reference, current estimates indicate that around one in three girls, and one in six boys, will suffer some form of sexual abuse). I go with the opposite of Nike's slogan: just don't do it. If you want to spend time together without your kids, take your mother in law, sister, or friend with you on vacation, so you can take shifts and have some worry-free adult fun. Even better, leave your kids at home to enjoy a weekend away on another occasion.

What To Do If Your Child Gets Lost

What if your kids get lost while you are on vacation in another country? Your child will be in an unfamiliar environment and may have a language barrier to deal with as well. You will, of course, work on staying together at all times so this simply won't happen. But some precautions are very useful. I suggest:

• Dressing your kids in brightly colored, easy to describe clothes and having very recent pictures of them with you at all times.

• Setting up a designated meeting spot where you will find each other if you get lost, for older kids.

• Making sure older kids have cellphones — that work at your destination — available so they can reach you. Also save the number of the place you are staying and that of your embassy to their phones.

• Placing your contact details on a younger child's body. There are necklaces available.

You can also teach your children to approach a woman, and preferably one with kids of her own in tow, for help if they get lost. Women are statistically less likely to be predators, and are also more likely to be helpful. Teaching your kids to approach a police officer is problematic, both since it might take a very long while for one to show up, and because it might be hard for your child to correctly identify a police officer.