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Advice on Child Health and Traveling Needs on Mission Trips

Warm Blankets typically advices against children younger than 11 years old traveling to Third World countries such as Cambodia or Democratic Republic of Congo. The reason is health and sanitary conditions in such countries are typically lacking and dangerous to children. For example:

• water from taps and even some bottled water may be of poor quality and may cause disease if not boiled.

• travel conditions to some outskirts/remote areas may involve rough roads inside jeeps or riverboats through mosquito-infested areas.

If you choose to bring your child along, Warm Blankets strongly advices that you ensure all the required immunizations for your child has been completed before the trip. Some shots may need to be taken in a series, lasting 2-4 months. Please check with your local doctor and/or links on our web sites for in-country health precautions.

If your child does comes along, please note that we usually follow the advice of our in-country ground team who may or may not allow your child to travel to certain sites, even if accompanied by an adult. When such situations do occur, you may have to prepare for alternative child-care sitting arrangements to stay with your child in the hotel and/or see only half of the sites on the trip. If that is not possible you may have to pursue other alternatives during the entire trip in consultation with Warm Blankets staff.

 

If you would still like to include your child along with you on the trip, we can consult our in-country staff to inquire on your behalf concerning any specific safeguards or precautions appropriate to the age of your child. Any information provided by them will hopefully be helpful in allowing you to make a more informed decision.

 

While we understand that traveling overseas may provide educational opportunities and interaction with people and culture that can be enriching for a lifetime, we also want to ensure that such travels do not become life-threatening or damage the physical health of those involved, including your child.