by staff

Summer is almost here. It’s time to think about those warm-weather activities, whether it’s just lounging out in front of your home soaking in the sun, going on road trips, or even doing things like swimming and diving. Whatever your lifestyle, you need to be safe. Here are four travel tips that will help you do just that.

1. Make Sure Your Car is in Good Shape
If you plan on road trips, you want to make sure that your car is going to help your summer be the thing of dreams, not nightmares. Have it checked out, especially its drive shaft. If you have vibrations going on the undercarriage, that’s the number one sign that something’s going on there.

You should also make sure that all the filters are clear, especially when it comes to your air conditioner. The last thing you want is to have hot air blasting out on a 95-degree day. That will make your summer trip a sweaty one. Fortunately, there are 285,000 auto mechanic businesses across the country, so you can rest assured your car can be looked at by a professional before you take off on the road.

2. Change Your Oil
You should do this roughly every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Check the owner’s manual to see what they recommend. You need to make sure that your engine is properly cooled, especially on those brutally hot days. This is one thing that you don’t want to forget, otherwise you’ll risk being stranded on the side of the road.

Have an expert who’s knowledgeable about cars take a look at your vehicle. Pay a little bit of money upfront to help prevent having to pay a lot more for expensive repairs down the road. Otherwise, your summer could quickly turn sour.

3. Let People Know Where You’re Going
Despite your best planning, things can happen. You want to make sure that other people know where you’re going so that you can check in with them. Give them an itinerary and contact numbers. That way, they can be alert to the possibility of something going wrong if you don’t get in touch at a certain time.
Another thing you can do is have your smartphone show its location when you’re traveling so that people who need to know can track it, especially if you fall out of touch. You might want to think about an AirTag, too. Technology makes it much easier to be able to track you, and there are multiple ways to do that in case you get separated from your phone.

4. Don’t Take Risks Diving or Swimming
Swimming in the ocean or lake can seem like a great idea when you’re on a summer trip, but it’s important to maintain safety precautions. There’s a very real risk of drowning: a third of all unintentional drownings happen in natural waters.

You can mitigate these risks by only diving or swimming in clear water. Make sure that any diving equipment is in working order and only use it as intended. Follow all the protocols in terms of both submerging and surfacing. Strongly consider going swimming or diving with other experienced people; swimming alone puts you at risk, too, even if you’re a strong swimmer.

Having a plan to keep you and your family safe can help make your trip an easy one. Spending that bit of extra time planning will be worth it.

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