It’s a day we’ll never forget. It was a sunny late afternoon in Honolulu, Hawaii. I was working as a television reporter at the local CBS affiliate and my brother was on call as the spokesperson for the city’s emergency management department. Little did we know that on that gorgeous December day our paths would cross in a dreadful way.
Just after four in the afternoon we were both sent by our respective bosses to Waikiki to respond to an accident at an upscale hotel. Within minutes of arriving we would witness the unthinkable. It was a dreadful sight that has remained with us for years. The image seared into our memory—the lifeless body of a three-year-old boy who had squeezed himself between the open spaces of his hotel room balcony and fallen seven stories onto the concrete sidewalk below.
Since that day (and since becoming a mom) I have made it a habit to request a ground room floor at every hotel we visit. I can’t imagine the horror the parents of that little boy must deal with on a daily basis. But, consequently their tragedy also serves as a warning to all of us that when traveling with children, it’s critical to keep in mind that hotel rooms aren’t childproofed like our own homes.
In a previous blog I wrote about the dangers associated with hotel cribs. But, it’s not just cribs that are a safety issue. Think of all of the items in your own home that you’ve altered since having children–electrical sockets, sliding doors, windows, and, of course, the potentially dangerous open spaces in your own balconies. If the idea that you’d have to spend part of your vacation child-proofing your hotel room overwhelms you, I have good news.
First, not all hotel rooms need it. For example, on Disney crusies, which cater to kids, every piece of furniture in a Disney cabin is rounded—you will not find a single square or rough edge in any guest cabin.
The other bit of good news–if a hotel room isn’t kid-friendly, you can childproof the room yourself either by bringing your own tools to make the area safer or by asking hotels to help out. At Holiday Inn Family Suites, they actually provide a childproofing kit. But it is only available upon request. Then again, many families I know simply pack a roll of duct tape. They use the tape to seal windows and door latches, and to place over sharp areas like table corners. The tape can also be used to cover electrical outlets when plastic outlet covers aren’t available.
In my next blog I will provide simple ways you can make your hotel room a bit more kid-friendly. You may be surprised at how easy it is to take the worry out of a family getaway.
Related Articles:
Traveling with Children: Finding the Best Hotel Room
Travel Tip: Beware of Hotel Cribs
Holiday Travel: 10 Hotel Safety Tips
What To Do In Case Of A Hotel Fire
What To Do In Case Of A Hotel Fire—Part 2