Honey, I've Lost the Kid
Most mums and dads occasionally experience the terrible feeling at the very pit of their stomach when, during a trip to the supermarket, their inquisitive child wanders off to play in the frozen food section, the biscuits aisle or some other such curiosity. Thankfully, there is often a happy reunion once the parent has spent several frantic minutes of searching. But could that five or ten minutes of panic been made any shorter?
In March 2005 IdentiKids commissioned Saros Market Research to undertake a survey of parents with children under 10. The reason for undertaking the research is that there are no known statistics on how many children become lost whilst out and about. Many of the "lost children" do not rate on any national statistics as they are found before their loss is reported to the police, nor do they fall under the category of abduction or runaway.
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Vital Statistics
The survey 's findings revealed:
 80% of all parents admit that they become accidentally temporarily separated from their children whilst outside of the home. (Children being aged up to 10 years)
Most likely age for a child to become separated from its parents is aged 3, thereafter the most likely ages are 4, 2, 5 ,6, 7, under 2, 8, 9 10
30% of parents do not teach their children what to do in the event that they become separated from their parents when out until after the event.
89% of all parents feel that the use of identification wrist bands that protect the identity of the child yet provide direct contact details with the child 's carer would be a useful tool in enhancing their child 's safety and in reuniting them in the soonest time.
87% of children are reunited with their parents in under 15 minutes
7% of children are reunited with their parents within 15-20 minutes
3% of children are reunited with their parents within 20-30 minutes
1.4% of children are reunited with their parents within 30-45 minutes
0.6% of children are reunited with their parents within 45-60 minutes
1% of children are reunited with their parents after 60 minutes minimum separation
Top Tips for Keeping Kids Safe
FOR KIDS
Here 's what to teach your children if they get lost
Always stand still. Make sure your children know to wait patiently and stay where they are so that Mummy/Daddy can come back and find them
Shout for Mummy by her full name. Make sure your child knows your first and surname
Recognise who they can approach for help. Teach your children that they can approach a shop assistant, policeman in uniform or another Mummy who has children with her
Never walk away with strangers. No matter what they may say or what they may offer them.
Know their own name and address. Teach children their full names and their addresses as soon as possible.
FOR PARENTS
Retrace your steps
Stay calm and don't panic
Locate an official who can help
If not every adult is carrying a mobile telephone, agree a meeting point and a time to meet with any other adult/person who may be looking for your child too.
If you find a child
Get an announcement made
Don't take the child away from where you found them
Tell the child your name
Try to reassure the child
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