How to Avoid Losing Children at the Beach: Tips and Safety Measures
With warmer weather and summer vacations just around the corner, it’s essential to be prepared to keep your kids safe at the beach. Here are some crucial safety tips and measures to help you avoid losing your kids at the beach, and what to do if you do.
Tips to Avoid Losing Children at the Beach
1. Always Be Close to the Child
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Constant Surveillance: Always stay close by and never leave children out of sight. The National Maritime Authority (AMN/ISN) recommends that children always be under direct supervision, never more than an arm’s length away.
2. Help Memorize the Path
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Teach the Route: If your family goes to the same beach regularly, teach your child the route between home and the beach. This familiarization can help your child find his or her way back to home in an emergency.
3. Dress Him in Bright Colors
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Colorful Swimsuit and Hat: Dress your child in a bright, solid-colored swimsuit and hat. This will make it easier to spot him or her in a crowd at the beach.
4. Put on an ID Bracelet
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Easy Identification: Put an identification bracelet on your child with the contact details of their parents or guardians. This simple measure can be crucial in an emergency.
5. Set an Alert Sound
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Emergency Signal: Agree on a simple sound (such as a specific scream) between parents and children to signal an emergency. A warning sound may be more effective than a look in a critical situation.
6. Teach How to Find Professionals
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Seek Professionals: Instruct children to seek help from professionals, such as lifeguards, the Maritime Police or the PSP, if they get lost. It is essential that children know how to stay calm and ask for help immediately.
7. Stay Calm in an Emergency
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Calmness is Essential: In situations of loss, it is essential to remain calm. Panicking can make it difficult to resolve the problem quickly. Contact the nearest security personnel immediately.
The PSP's "I'm Here" Program
The "Estou Aqui" program is an initiative of the Public Security Police (PSP) that aims to help locate children in case they are lost. It consists of a unique, personal and non-transferable identification bracelet, equipped with an alphanumeric code. In case of emergency, if a child is lost and someone finds them, simply call 112 and provide the code on the bracelet.
Registration for the program is free and can be done through the campaign's official website , which also provides detailed information on how this safety tool works. It is important to note that, although the "I'm Here" bracelet is effective, it does not replace constant vigilance and caution by parents or guardians.
What to Do in Case of Loss
In situations where a child is lost on the beach, it is important to act quickly:
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Contact a Lifeguard: Immediately contact the beach lifeguard to initiate search procedures. They have the means to alert the authorities and begin the search.
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Call 112: If you are on an unsupervised beach, contact 112 immediately for assistance and to direct resources to the location.
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Use the Estou Aqui Bracelet: Register your child in the PSP Estou Aqui program and put an identification bracelet on them. In case of loss, this bracelet makes it easier to quickly reunite with their parents or guardians.
Keeping children safe at the beach requires constant vigilance and simple preventative measures, such as identification and emergency preparedness. Teach children what to do in situations of loss and always be prepared to enjoy safe and peaceful moments during the summer at the beach.
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