Keeping Children Safe at Festivals
With festivals being so busy it is not uncommon to be concerned about the safety of children. Here is a few tips and tricks to keep those pesky kids safe!
Surroundings
First things first... Make sure they know their surroundings. If you are camping it is a good idea to make sure your tent is located in a place where it can be found by a landmark. This could be the edge where there are fairy lights could make points (eg, tent is under the 4th square of lights directly underneath the blue lights on the left hand side of the path) also consider using a flag so if your child gets lost they can find the flag.
Ensure the child knows where they can go if they are really lost and need to find mummy or daddy, like the first aid tent or the information desks.
Clothing
It is a good idea to make sure you get a photo of your child so you know the clothes they are wearing. It is easy to get lost in the crowd so try to ensure they are wearing something that you can easily identify. Like reflective clothing and bright colours.
Make sure you can also be seen! Can the child spot you in the crowd, you could wear a funky hat, glow sticks some suggest having a flag on the buggy (if applicable) so you are easily spotted.
Contact info
You MUST make sure that your contact information is written on the child. This may be by wristband and/or writing in a marker on their arm/leg. Consider a safety bracelet which could be made from beads that make up your phone number. This way if someone was to find your child lost they could help return the child to you. Make sure that you can clearly read the details every day. DO NOT write the child's name on the wristband as this could be used to gain trust with the child in the wrong circumstances.
Also remember that sometimes mobile phone signals don't cover everywhere and batteries can die so always have a back-up! Long range walkie talkies could be a good idea!
Child Trackers
These are also a good investment! You can get trackers which beep if the child had wandered too far. You can get ones that beep to know how far they are and they beep louder the further away they get this can help to track them. You can also get devices that the child would wear and you can see on a map through your phone exactly where they are. Consider giving your child a cheap back-up phone teach them to call if they are old enough but only in emergency. Amazon have a range of trackers to choose from, find one that would suit your situation best!
Meet Staff
Have children meet staff who could be there to help. Make sure they know who the stewards and security are so if they aren't familiar with the landmarks there is likely to be staff located everywhere. If there is a particular place for lost children introduce yourself and child to familiarise with the staff they would be able to identify you if they find your missing child or vice versa they can help you find the child.
STAY TOGETHER!
All the while teach your children about safety and ensure that in any case you are prepared. Have reins or carry your child in dense crowds. You can never be too over cautious!
DON'T EVER LEAVE CHILDREN ON THEIR OWN EVEN WHILST YOU GO TOILET OR TELL THEM TO WAIT THERE WHILST YOU GET FOOD ETC. KEEP THEM BY YOUR SIDE ALWAYS.
