Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
38
your child has asthma or any medical con-
dition that requires medication, and there's
a chance y ou'll r equire extra inhalers, an
EpiPen, or whatever, make sure you bring
along a pr escription fr om y our pediatri-
cian. I f y our child accidentally swallo ws
something scar y, call the S tate P oison
Control hot line, available 24 hours a day,
at
&
800/876-4766.
Along with impor-
tant medications, pack an emergency pair
of glasses or contact lenses. I list
hospitals
and
emergency numbers
in the “F
turn ar ound and don 't see y ou standing
next to them, they shouldn 't panic. They
may simply have gotten disoriented in the
crowd, or y ou may hav e turned out of
their line of sight. When this happens,
they should call out your name—not sim-
ply “M om” or “D ad”—in a clear , loud
voice. The last thing you want them to do
is wander off tr ying to find y ou. If you'll
be traveling with teenagers who may want
some space, and who don't have their own
cellphones, consider shor t-range walkie-
talkies. You most often see these on ski
slopes, but they ar e ideal for families that
need to keep in touch.
Discuss with y our kids what to do if
they get lost: you don't want them walking
the streets looking for y our hotel. I f they
don't immediately spot a police officer ,
they might ask the nearest hotel concierge,
store clerk, or restaurant hostess to help—
by calling the police or y our hotel, for
example. Take your child's age and level of
common sense into consideration when
you think about what he or she could do
in the unlikely case that he or she becomes
lost. Explain whom to avoid (for example,
anyone holding a sign, talking to himself
or herself, or begging with dogs and cats as
props) and whom to approach for help.
Teenagers, who may be used to some
freedom at home, ar e another matter . I f
they aren't familiar with busy urban cen-
ters and if they hav en't already developed
some street smarts, I'd think twice befor e
allowing them to wander ar ound alone
even during the daytime. There are places
where y ou can giv e them some space—
Metreon (p. 162), the Westfield San Fran-
cisco Centr e (p . 264), and A T&T P ark
(p. 265), for example—but it 's preferable
that they hang out with a companion.
The streets of S an Francisco, like most
big cities, ar e filled with driv ers who ar e
frustrated and/or talking on their cell-
phones, so be car eful crossing them. This
is not the city in which to play chicken
with cars. Use the crosswalks, wait for the
ast
Facts” section of chapter 4.
If you suffer from a chronic illness, con-
sult y our doctor befor e y our depar ture.
Pack
prescription medications
in y our
carry-on luggage, and carr y them in their
original containers, with pharmacy labels—
otherwise they won 't make it thr ough air-
port security. Visitors from outside the U.S.
should carry generic names of pr escription
drugs. F or U.S. trav elers, most r eliable
health-care plans pr ovide co verage if y ou
get sick away fr om home. F oreign visitors
may have to pay medical costs upfr ont and
be reimbursed later.
2
STAYING SAFE
The general cav eats about not walking
alone at night, staying in well-lighted areas,
and carrying a minimum of cash and jewels
on your person are as true in San Francisco
as in ev ery major city. Although S an Fran-
cisco isn't crime-ridden, it is not a 24-hour
town like New York, for example, and y ou
could be putting y ourself at risk v enturing
out at 2am. H owever, since this is a family
travel book, let 's assume y our r eal worries
have to do with keeping y our children safe
while on vacation.
First, giv e ev eryone in y our par ty the
hotel's business car d upon arriv al, and, if
you hav e a cellphone, write that number
on the back of the car d. Make sure these
stay in pockets or backpacks—preferably a
front pocket, which is also the safest place
for wallets. N ever keep v aluables in back-
packs, as they can be easily and quickly
yanked away. Tell y our kids that if they
