Child Safety is a major issue today. From newspapers and television reports it appears to many that almost monthly a child is reported missing. Despite tremendous effort from the police and public some of these incidents still end tragically.
It is essential that all responsible parents make more effort to protect their young children, not just from strangers but from everyday dangers such as roads, rivers, building sites, and other places where, to a parent, the dangers are obvious.
Dangers affect all age groups, from the very young to the very old. However, children are young, inquisitive, easily persuaded, and have no real perception of danger. This must be taught. We hope you will take the advice on these pages and spend some time passing it on to your child.
CHILD SAFE LINK
A Falkirk and District Community Safety Panel initiative.
When a small child gets separated from their parent or guardian in a busy street, store, or shopping centre it is very distressing for adult and child alike.
Youngsters will always get lost and a lost child is a vulnerable child. Yet few of us know the best way to comfort a lost and frightened child, and how to get them reunited with their anxious family as quickly as possible.
Falkirk Town Centre Business Community, Central Scotland Police and Falkirk and District Community Safety Panel have joined forces to provide helpful guidelines to parents, children and retail staff.
Research shows wide variations in the way parents and guardians react when children get lost and in the way retail staff cope with children. Likewise advice given to children about what to do if they get lost varies enormously – often resulting in confusion and unnecessary delay.
This short guide provides easy step-by-step advice on what is expected from each of you.
| If A Child Gets Lost . . . These simple instructions can be easily followed by a lost child and are completely compatible with the advice for parents and shop/retail staff. |
Teach these simple instructions to your child, for both your sakes.
Children
The moment you realise you are lost, you should:
| • | Stop, stand still and look around, do not run around. | |
| • | If you see the person you are shopping with call them and go straight back to them. Hold their hand so you do not get lost again.If you cannot see the person you were with go directly to the till or checkout and tell the person working there that you are lost. | |
| • | If you are in a shopping centre or street and cannot see the person you are with go into the nearest shop and go quickly to a till or checkout. Tell them you are lost. | |
| If you see a Police Officer in uniform tell him/her that you are lost. | ||
| Do not approach anyone else. | ||
Parents & Guardians guidelines . . .
| ♦ | If you cannot find your child, stand still and shout your childs name. |
| ♦ | If in a store, enquire at the nearest checkout. |
| ♦ | If in the street go into the nearest shop and enquire at the till or checkout. |
| ♦ | If in a shopping centre go into the nearest store and ask them to contact the shopping centre security. |
| ♦ | If you see a Police Officer tell him/her that your child is lost. If there are none around make contact with your nearest Police Office. |
| ♦ | Listen carefully to any public Tannoy announcements. |
| How many ticks can you score ? | |
| ♦ | I have taught my child to recite their name, address and telephone number. |
| ♦ | I encourage my child to stay close to me and hold my hand or trolley when I go shopping. |
| ♦ | I use reins or wrist straps in busy places. |
| ♦ | I don`t leave my child in unsupervised play areas. |
| ♦ | I make sure that my children know that most stores and shopping centre staff wear uniforms and name badges. |
| ♦ | I have taught my child the Child Safe Link instructions. |
Shopping Centre and Retail staff guidelines . . .
| If you see a child who is unaccompanied by a guardian, approach the child slowly, | |
| ∗ | Bend down to the childs height. Tell them your name and that you work there. Now try to find out his or her name. |
| ∗ | Ask the child to look around for his/her parents/guardian (most lost children are near their family who are simply obscured by displays.) |
| ∗ | If unsuccessful, notify your store or shopping centre security and use the Tannoy system if available. |
| ∗ | Confirm the identity of anyone claiming the child and make sure the child can identify them. If in doubt contact the Police. |
| ∗ | If the child is not collected or claimed soon, ensure that a member of staff stays with them at all times, (preferably a person who made the initial contact). Where possible, make sure the child stays in public view at a till or checkout. This avoids confusing a distressed youngster. |
| ∗ | If your town has a Retail Radio Link, use it to contact other retailers and the Police, giving as much information as possible. In all cases report the matter to the Police by phone if you are not on a Retail Radio Link system.∗ |
If your child has been a victim of a crime . . .
There are a number of help groups dedicated to helping children who have been victims of crime or abuse. Click for a list of their addresses and contact telephone numbers.
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