The 2010 World Cup is underway! This year's World Cup is in South Africa, with hundreds of thousands of attendees expected at the matches. City of Cape Town officials have assured parents that kids will be safe during the month-long event. However, parents need to know what to do if their child becomes lost.
Each fan park will have a lost-and-found facility, staffed by eight social workers and child care practitioners. Also, all children under the age of 14 will be tagged with contact details when entering the parks. Another part of the child safety plan for the 2010 World Cup will be using the giant television screens around the stadiums to televise important messages or alerts.
If you'll be attending 2010 World Cup events with your kids, take a few minutes to review Samantha Wilson's tips on what to do if your child becomes separated from you at any time:
*Understand that time is critical. It can literally mean the difference between life and death. If your child goes missing, how you react, how the event staff respond, and how your child deals with his fear are crucial.
*Immediately alert World Cup event staff and security that your child is missing and give a clear description of your child to security and other event-goers. Always carry a current photo of your children in your wallet, and remember that clothing is easier to identify than height and weight.
*Make sure the World Cup event staff notifies police. If your child is found quickly, you can cancel the request.
*Direct World Cup security to cover all exits. If your child attempts to leave the location alone or with another person, they will be noticed.
*Continuously yell out your child’s name. Draw as much attention as you can to the fact that your child is missing. Do not be embarrassed.
*Think about where you saw him last and return to that part of the event.
*Ask EVERYONE to help search. Remember that when a child is lost, the more people looking, the more likely he will be found. If all exits are blocked, it’s harder for a predator to leave with the child. A predator is not interested in abducting a child that everyone is looking for because it is far too risky.
*Think like your child. What would they do if they were lost and scared?
Kidproof offers the Never Bee Lost course, a one-hour program designed to teach children what to do if they become lost or separated from their parents in a public place. Focus is on prevention and safe responses to this often common and frightening event.
