Keeping kids safe in crowed places
It can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime and it will be the scariest moment in your life. In a crowded place, it takes just a few seconds for your child to leave your side, the time to look at a message that just popped up on your phone, to grab something in your bag. Even a couple step away from you, the density of the crowd, the animation, the noise will make your child feel disoriented.
Consider the following tips to keep your children safe in crowded places and to avoid this panicking experience. As always, it starts with awareness and preparation for you as well as for your children.
If your children are old enough, talk with them about where you are going, and about what they should do if something goes wrong. Give examples like if you become separated.
Make a plan to regroup at an accessible and distinctive spot (easy to remember and to identify), or to stay put if they get lost.
Teach them what kind of person to look for and to ask for help: another mom (a woman with kids), someone in uniform (police officer or firefighter).
Have them remember their full name and yours (other than “mommy” and “daddy”).
Dress your kids in easily identifiable and easy to describe clothing, prefer bright colors that stand out.
Right before leaving for the event, take a photo of your kids with your cellphone. It is much easier to show people around you, security, and law enforcement a photo of them with what they are wearing that day than it is for to describe them at a time when stress will be peeking.
Make sure they carry your phone number: on a bracelet, necklace, on their clothes tags, written on their forearm (you can even use Liquid Band-Aid to put on top of it so it doesn’t smear off with sweat or rain), personalized temporary tattoos or a piece of paper with your information in their pocket (preferably laminated).
Have them carry an emergency whistle; they will be able to call for help immediately with a blast which is much louder than the human voice.
Avoid loose clothing or accessories that could become tangled.
Have them wear closed-toe shoes and keep the laces tied.
If your kids are old enough to have a cellphone, make sure it is fully charged, programed to vibrate and placed it in a front pocket to make sure they will feel the vibrations.
Explain, repeat, and repeat over again to your kids your family’s large crowd safety plan to make sure they remember it.
The back brief methodology - After explaining to your kids what to do if you get separated, ask them to summarize the instructions you gave them to ensure that they have been properly understood (back briefing is a very effective and rooted military tradition).