Turning around and finding that your child is no longer visible is one of the most frightening things as a parent.
I don't know how many times my son has disappeared from my eye line and even though I've found him quickly afterward, that feeling of sheer panic is the absolute worst.
Sometimes children can get quite a distance away from their parents though and in these cases, the help of the general public is often required to reunite parent and child.
If your child ever does get lost in a crowd this tip will cut down the time it takes to find them.
Written on the
Institute of Mums , one post describes an instance when a mum had to be quick thinking to assist another mother in distress.
The original post written by Libby Thompson read:
"Child safety post: I was in the middle of this showdown with V when I heard screaming. I turned and saw a woman at the shoreline doubled over clutching herself in pain. As a mum, I recognised she couldn’t find her child.
"I walked over (best first aid training I’ve ever had- walk, then you get to assess and you bring authority with you). I asked her what colour her child was wearing, her hair, how high, and how old. She replied through gasps and said blue shorts blonde and 3yrs old.
"I told one bloke to move immediately left shouting out as he went ‘3yr old blonde boy in blue shorts- look around you’ and one lady to the right and one up the beach. It took 60 seconds to find him using this and he was 300 yards away to the right.
"I read this advice on Facebook about a year ago and only remembered it because it was Air Cadets advice so close to my heart.
"Shouting a kid’s name only informs the child- whereas this gets the whole crowd actively helping.
"Please do remember this if ever in this hideously scary situation- I’ve just tried in real life and it bloody did the job."
"I had never thought before to shout out what the child looks like rather than their name, but it makes so much sense.
"It is also much quicker than having to physically show a photograph of your child to everyone in the crowd."
All kids, especially toddlers, will give their parents a scare from time to time by going AWOL in a public place, but now you'll be able to find them faster and cut down on the amount of time you're separated and how long you're having that mini heart attack for.
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