Separated from a Child during Travels

As you look around for your child, you think of all the plans you SHOULD have made before you became separated. It is SO easy for this to happen, even in familiar places. We thought we'd come up with a list of a few simple things to remedy this situation should your family be unfortunate to get into it.

As parents, when we travel, we try to make note of what our boys are wearing.

• Put your child/ren in bright colored shirt or jacket
• Have the child wear a hat
• This sounds silly, but have your family dress the same when you travel (or, go to any other crowded public place, shopping malls etc.) - it's easy to say to someone when describing a missing child that they are "dressed just like me... only smaller". No need to remember what they have on.
• Don't dress a child with something with his/her name easily seen on it
• Write a note with your phone # (cell), my Mommy's (or Daddy's) name is _____, maybe something that says "I am lost, please help me" for children too young to know exactly how to help themselves be found, and stick it in a pocket or other safe spot on their body.

If you are at an airport, amusement park etc.

• Make a plan to meet at an easily seen from most anywhere spot (a tall ride, a certain flag, etc.)
• Teach your child to find a Police Officer or Security Guard to help locate you, and teach them the many different ways this type of person may be dressed
  
• Bring walkie-talkies (hand-held radios) or cell phones to keep communication with older children
• Teach your child (if old enough) NOT to give out too much information, especially if talking with a stranger
• It's best if the child knows NOT to wander further once they realize they are separated, it will make them easier to find
  

Other useful hints

• Keep current photos of your children on your cell phone, iTouch, iPod etc. to show in case of a lost child while traveling
• As soon as you realize your child is lost, report it, especially if you are somewhere where it can be announced over an intercom
• If you have many kids of various ages, have each child have a 'buddy' - an older child helping out with keeping track of a younger child
  
• If you want to protect your kids in the highest of tech ways, there are wrist-worn satellite tracking devices that can be put on a child

A few other good 'safety advice' links to check out for even more info

• Safer Summer Fun - advice from Ntl Ctr of Missing & Exploited Children
• Travel & Leisure Magazine Article on becoming Separated from Child
• Getting Separated in Public & Stranger Safety
  

The best bit of advice, of course, is to teach children not to stray away, and to keep your eyes on your children, especially in crowded places. We live in a rural, generally VERY safe town, so our children have NOT grown up with any fear of the chance of 'bad' things happening, which becomes difficult when we travel away from home.

Please comment with YOUR experiences or ADD other hints and ideas! Surely we've missed some.