West Wittering Beach becomes a ‘Child Safe Zone’ |
Losing a small child on a crowded beach is the stuff of nightmares but now kids can play, paddle and enjoy peace of mind at West Wittering thanks to a new safety scheme being piloted this summer before launching nationally in 2006.
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Child Safe Zones is a unique service, which aims to help reunite a lost child with their family as quickly as possible.
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| Free waterproof wristbands, on which parents can write a contact number, are available from the lifeguards, the beach shop or the windsurfing club. Making sure a child is carrying parents’ contact information is one of the best ways to help others find their child. |
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Visitors to West Wittering’s famous golden sands will be directed to a special phone number which, as well as giving them up-to-date beach safety information, will put them directly in touch with a lifeguard if a child is lost or in distress.
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The phone number is displayed on signs along the beach together with a letter, which helps the lifeguard locate the caller quickly.
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And for parents who want a level of security to follow them wherever they go, registering with Child Safe Zones provides even more reassurance.
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| Child Safe Zones will set up a unique family account, keeping on its records a photograph of your child, emergency contact numbers, details of allergies and key medical information. ( Cost of registration is £10 per family per year)
So if the worst should happen and your child goes missing, one quick call to a 24-hour support centre immediately gets a picture of the child to a lifeguard’s phone. Posters can also be created if necessary which can then be sent to other appropriate authorities.
David Piper, Manager of the award-winning Blue Flag beach, said: ‘The new wristbands are easy and comfy to wear and come in all sorts of bright colours so the kids think they are fun.
‘They’re waterproof so children can go in and out of the sea all day without the bands falling off or getting torn. We want families to have a fantastic day out here and helping them to stay safe is as important as keeping the water clean and the beach litter-free.
‘The more quickly we can locate missing children and return them to their parents the better it is for everyone. This system gives us that ability.’
Paul Kent from Child Safe Zones said: ‘We’ve worked closely with towns and shopping centres across the UK over the last 12 months, and we’re very excited about extending the scheme to West Wittering beach ahead of lots more beaches next year.
Child Safe Zones information is available at the beach from the Lifeguard HQ, The Beach Goods Shop and the Windsurfing Club, or visit www.childsafezones.co.uk. |
