Keep Your Kids Safe in Public Places
Children are explorers, and sometimes take off in an instant. Before you head outdoors, make a trip to the mall, visit an amusement park or take a vacation, plan ahead and take simple precautions to insure your outing is a fun and safe one. Should you lose your child or find a lost child, the simple steps below can help everyone become safely reunited.
Use the tips below to help prevent your child from getting lost; to know what to do if you lose your child, and what to do if you find a lost child.
Prevent Your Child from Getting Lost
- Establish a designated meeting place where you and your child can meet if you become separated. For example, an information booth or customer service desk.
- Write your cell phone number on a sticker or badge and place it on your child’s clothing. If you and your child become separated, the person who finds your child can contact you immediately.
- Dress your child in bright colored clothing so they can be easily spotted in a crowd or at a distance.
- Always carry a recent picture of your child with your child’s height, weight, eye and hair color marked on the back.
- When arriving at your destination, point out staff or security personnel so your child will know who to contact should you become separated.
- Teach your children to also seek out another mom with kids should they get lost and need help.
- Avoid dressing your child with personalized clothing or backpacks. Strangers can trick kids into thinking they’re a friend by calling out their name.
Important Statistics about Lost Children
According to a report from the US Department of Justice, every year 374,700 children become temporarily separated from their caretakers for a least one hour. That’s a little over 1,000 kids every day!
What to Do If You Lose Your Child
- Remain calm and act quickly.
- Immediately contact a staff member, manager or security personnel. Many retail stores, amusement parks, etc. have procedures in place to help secure the area and look for lost children.
- Then call your local law‐enforcement agency. Be prepared to give your child’s information: such as name, physical features and what your child is wearing.
- Don’t wander too far from where you last saw your child, he or she may be nearby.
- Be sure you have the cell phone that is noted on your child’s sticker or badge turned on, that it’s receiving a signal, and the volume is on high.
What to Do If You Find A Lost Child
Don’t be afraid to get involved!
- Experts advise that you reassure
the child that he/she is going to
be OK, then call the authorities.
- Wait with the child until authorities arrive. Do not take the child away from the immediate area. If there are people searching for the child, they might return to that same location.
These are just a few things you can do to keep your kids safe in public places. Please visit Montlick.com or HelpKeepKidsSafe.org and click on “Family Safety and Legal Tips,” to see our latest safety videos and downloadable materials, and to register for Free Safety Alerts.
Keep Your Kids Safe in Public Places is presented by Atlanta/Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers Montlick & Associates.
At Montlick & Associates, we understand that keeping your family together when you venture into busy, public places can be a task by itself. That's why we put together this important information to help you prevent your child from getting lost and what to do if you lose your child in public places. Atlanta, Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers Montlick & Associates is committed to helping you keep your kids safe.