Wednesday, October 26, 2011

What should you do if you see a lost child? Robin, Terry & Bob got some tips from Director and Founder of Children's Safety Australia Inc. Kim Jackson 

Here is some more information from Children's Safety Australia

What can I do if I see a child in danger or distress?

Please stop and assist the child!  

It is not necessary or recommended for you to remove the child from the immediate situation unless they are in immediate and emergent danger.

Instead, consider…

• Telling the child you are concerned for their safety.

• Asking the child where they have come from and where they are going.

• Asking the child if you can contact a parent/carer, the school or the police on their behalf.

• Waiting a safe distance* from the child until the bus/parent/help arrives.  
*A safe distance is recommended in order to ensure the child still feels comfortable but also so you are on hand in case assistance is required.


Consider teaching your children: 

What you expect your child to do if they feel unsafe when they are not in the immediate care of a known adult.  

Encouraging them to listen to their body’s early warning signs telling them when they feel unsafe is a good start, e.g. butterflies in the tummy, wobbly knees, hair standing on end. This will help to ensure they recognise when they are feeling unsafe.  

If they feel unsafe and fear for their safety, advising them to go to a “safe place” and speaking with a “trusted adult” about how they are feeling is encouraged.  It is vitally important to discuss where a safe place might be in a broad range of likely scenarios (e.g. at school, at the shops) and who a trusted adult might be (see below).  Children need to know that if they are feeling unsafe it is okay to say “NO!” to an adult (if the adult is making them feel unsafe) and to do whatever it takes to get to safety.


Who they should approach in an emergency when no known adults are around.

While “stranger danger” is a very common message, the vast majority of safety risks facing children are from adults known and often trusted by the child.  Children need to understand that strangers are anyone they don’t know and that most strangers will assist them if they need help in an emergency.  People they could approach if they are feeling unsafe and no trusted known adults are around include: a uniformed police officer or security officer, a shop keeper, a parent or grandparent with children – particularly a mother or grandmother.  In any case, it is suggested children stay where they can be viewed by others rather than going with the ‘assisting person’ to an office or other unobservable space.

For further information contact Children’s Safety Australia Inc. via tel: 3379 4475 or email: admin@childsafety.org.au