We at NeverWander are passionate about keeping children safe, and the first step into being proactive is being aware. We want to acknowledge the reality and stare in the eyes of fear and say "we know you exist, but we stand tall, firm, and armed with courage to never let you win!"
So here's some reality we should all know*:
The statistics are alarming, but this knowledge can aid us in preventing these situations. Here are a few things you can do with your family to stay alert*:
Knowledge is power. So stay in the know, and educate your children on the importance of safety!
If you have any other tips, leave them in the comment section!
So here's some reality we should all know*:
- Every 40 seconds a child goes missing in the U.S. This means 2,100 kids on a daily basis.
- 500,000 cases of missing children are not reported
- Approximately 27% of children visiting theme parks with their families, get lost
- The first three hours after the child has gone missing are incredibly critical when it comes to locating him/her
The statistics are alarming, but this knowledge can aid us in preventing these situations. Here are a few things you can do with your family to stay alert*:
- When planning on spending the day at crowded places, such as theme parks, fairs, or malls, take a full body picture of your child in the morning. If your child gets lost, it is likely that the stress you are under will hinder you from remembering what your child was wearing - a picture will help not only in this, but it can also be distributed among employees to help you locate him/her.
- When you first step foot in a new establishment, set a meeting place in case you get separated - use a landmark, or an unique place, i.e. in front of the Chik-fil-a at the mall (if there's only one).
- Also, have a back up plan in case they don't know how to get back to the meeting place - teach your kids to reach to another mommy! They are easily recognizable: a stroller or other kids around will do the trick. Mom's may be easier to approach for a scared child than a security guard. Most moms will do everything in their power to help the child, all they have to do is put themselves in your situation and they will understand what a key role they're playing!
- Teach your kids your cell phone number! They can tell the person helping them that they know it and they'll be able to contact you
- If your child isn't old to know your number, you can make temporary ID "tattoos" for your kids with your info on it... pretty nifty product, and perfect for vacations and long days at amusement parks!
Knowledge is power. So stay in the know, and educate your children on the importance of safety!
If you have any other tips, leave them in the comment section!
*Resources: http://missingchildprevention.wordpress.com/
http://www.missingkids.com/
http://www.missingkids.com/