|
| |
Child Safety In Amusement Or Theme
Parks
Family outings are occasions that can be
wonderful times for bonding and spending quality time together. And family
outings to amusement and theme parks can
be special times that leave children with lifelong memories of
"meeting" their favorite cartoon
character or having their own "real-life" action adventure.
It’s a "family-favorite" vacation that is enjoyed by millions each
year.
As a parent, you know that such outings can
also be sources of stress and concern for family members visiting an
area with so many new sights and sounds. It’s easy for both adults and
children to become distracted by all the
excitement and attractions. Taking the time to plan your trip and including your
children in that process will help make
your outing in the park a more enjoyable one from start to finish. Here are a
few steps that you and your children can
take to help ensure those happy memories.
Before going to the park, tell
your children ...
 | to enjoy their outing while paying careful
attention to where they are and who they are with at all times. |
| that they should not be alone in the park
or become isolated with anyone, even characters in costume. Also tell
them not to accept any prizes, offers, or
gifts from anyone until they have checked first with you. Children
should also be cautioned not to engage in
conversation with or offer assistance to anyone until they have checked
with you first. |
| to tell you if anyone approaches
them or makes them feel uncomfortable. Tell your children that if they are
approached by anyone who tries to take them
away to yell, "This person is
not my father (mother)!" |
| that if you become separated while in
the park to go to the closest "Help/Information Center" to ask the
people there to "find my parents
and bring them to me here at this Center" or, in the case of older
children, make the "Help/Information
Center" the spot where you can "meet up." Make sure your
children understand that they should never
search for you on their own or look for you outside the park, especially
in the parking lot. |
| that these rules also apply when they
are taking part in a field trip through their school or youth group. And if
you are not joining them for that trip, they
need to check first with and tell the responsible adult in charge or
a designated chaperone if anything is wrong. |
As a parent you should ...
| get information about the park prior to
your trip, and review the park guidelines, particularly
those regarding lost children. Discuss the information as a family, including
what to do if you become separated. Ask your children what they would do in
certain situations, and practice
appropriate actions and responses with your children. |
| get a map of the park immediately upon
arriving, identify the "Help/Information Centers" throughout, and
reinforce the idea that these are the places
for children to go to in case you become separated in the park. |
Making a plan beforehand, of what to do in
case you are separated, should greatly speed a reunion.
| talk to your children about who can help
them if they become lost, need assistance, or are in trouble. Examples
of these people may be park personnel with nametags or mothers with
children. Children should never go off
alone with anyone. |
| Do not allow your children to
wear clothing or carry items on which their names are displayed. |
| make sure that your children carry some
form of identification and family/emergency contact information
with them in case they become separated from you or need assistance. |
| consider dressing your children in or
asking them to wear brightly colored clothes so that they may be more
easily spotted in the park. |
| accompany young children on rides in the
park. Older children should stay in groups and take a friend with
them wherever they go in the park. If you
decide to let young children go on rides without you, wait with them
in line, watch them enter the ride, and immediately meet them when they exit
the ride. |
| always accompany younger children to
restrooms in the park. Older children should not go to the restroom
alone. |
| immediately report any suspicious or
inappropriate behavior to authorities. |
| make certain that your children have change
to use the telephone. If you have a cellular telephone or pager, make
certain your children know those numbers and that these devices are
activated so your children may call
you if they become lost. Parents may wish to use two-way radios while in the
park, so that family members can stay
in touch with each other. |
| immediately report your children as being
missing if you become separated in the park, and be prepared
to give an accurate and detailed description of your children. You should
carry a current photograph and be able
to accurately describe the clothing that the children are wearing. |
| make certain that there is going to be
qualified supervision of the children by responsible adults, if you are
considering granting permission for your
child to take part in a field trip to an amusement or theme park. |
|
SafetyCops.com