When you arrive at your hotel, find out where the nearest safety exists are and plan your own safety escape. Ask at the desk how they want to be informed in case of an emergency, if they have emergency protocol, and how to use the phone for emergencies.

Keep fire safety in mind while staying in a hotel. It's not a good idea to use candles, matches, and lighters, and never dry clothing on heaters, a fireplace, or wood-stove in your hotel room. In case of fire or if you hear a fire alarm, leave the hotel using the nearest fire-exit stairway and do not take time to collect any of your belongings. As in any fire situation, feel the door for heat and check for smoke before opening it. If you feel heat on the door or see smoke, look around for a different way to leave.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs are tiny, flat bugs smaller than an apple seed. They live all over the world in every country and are found everywhere from youth hostels to five-star hotels. Bedbugs travel in suitcases and live in beds, carpets, behind baseboards, under wallpaper, and in small cracks and crevices throughout a room.

There are a couple of ways to identify bedbugs in your hotel room. First, they tend to leave tiny reddish or black streaks on sheets. Second, they leave small, itchy bumps that you may find upon waking in the morning, often in linear groups of three commonly referred to as “breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

If you suspect you have been bitten or see telltale signs of bedbugs, grab your suitcases and head to the desk to ask for a new room. Also, be sure to shake out your suitcases to rid them of any stowaways. You can then treat any bites with 1% hydrocortisone or antihistamine cream for the itch and inflammation.

Childproofing Your Hotel Room

If you have children, then you need to childproof your hotel room. Your hotel may offer a childproofing kit, so inquire when you get there. Pay attention to things like blinds and loose or dangling cords. Watch your children around any electrical outlets, furniture with sharp corners, or loose equipment. Move furniture away from any windows if you can. Talk to your children about never standing on chairs or jumping from bed to bed, and don't let them on the balconies alone.

Like all home-safety measures, you need to keep soaps, shampoos, plastic bags, matches, and toiletries out of the reach of children. Take special precautions about such things as dry-cleaning bags, glasses, coffeemakers, and hairdryers. Always carefully check the hot water for the bath to make sure the water is not too hot. Make sure that any alcohol in the mini fridge is out of reach of young children, including partially empty glasses.

Children can suffer head injuries, crushed nerves, internal injuries, and broken bones from pulling TV sets on top of themselves. In many cases, these accidents happen because televisions are set on top of a simple stand or cart, although children have pulled them from wall units, shelving, and from atop dressers as well. Make sure that the television in your room is secured to the dresser or table. Instruct your children not to climb, play with, or pull on the television or the stand, and not to play with cords, plugs, and television buttons.

When traveling with babies, make sure that you get a room with a crib and double check that the crib is set up securely and properly and that the mattress is firmly supported and fits snugly. Just as at home, the sheets need to fit the mattress securely and the crib needs to stay clutter free. A crib should be manufactured after 1986 in the United States to meet safety regulations. Exercise caution when using a crib provided by a hotel, because many hotels have outdated and recalled products, including cribs.