If anyone has ever lost his/her child in a mall, amusement park, or even the grocery store, it’s a terrible experience!  They can disappear in the blink of an eye.  When our son was four years old, a group of us had gone to Six Flags over Texas.  He had moved up to watch a “Texas Shootout”, and when the crown dispersed, he just left with the flow of the crowd.  Even though we thought we could see where he was, it’s amazing how fast that happened.  We frantically searched for him, and were directed by a security guard to a building called, “Lost Parents”.  There he was,  his eyes as big as saucers, as he sat there waiting.  We were very lucky.  My main concern was that he would fall into one of the many water areas; had it been now, I would have worried more about child predators.  

Now, parents have several options to help them keep up with and find their children.  Michele Welsh, a mother of three invented a temporary tattoo that does the talking for them – Safety Tat.  She created these tattoos for peace of mind, and to aid in help in locating them when they disappear before your very eyes.  You can write your cell number and any other information on them; or customize them.  They go on and off easily, and last about two weeks.  Another great feature is that there are temporary tats for children with allergies, or other health problems that other adults should know about. 

We want to share some lost child stats and facts from Family Safety Expert, Alyssa Dver, Founder of the Center to Prevent Lost Children:

• Over 2,000 U.S. kids get lost each day.
• Less than 10% are reported to any authority.
• 90% of families will experience losing a child in a public place.  20% have lost a child more than once.
• Parents rank losing a child 5 times more concerning to them than terrorism and 3 times more concerning than abduction.
• Kids get lost more often, (45%)  in malls and stores.
• 27% of families that visit an amusement park lose a child while they are there.  That’s almost 1 in 3!
• Only 9% of parents put some form of safe ID on their children.
• 76% of parents want to know what to do to prevent a child from getting lost.
• 95% of lost children will forever remember the trauma of getting lost. 

Here are five ways Parents Magazine gives you some safety tips when taking your kids to theme parks: 

1. Have a game plan.  Talk to your family about what to do if someone gets lost: Stay put, or find a park worker or another mom with kids.  Plan this before you go.
2. Bring a family photo.  Take one with your cell phone the day of the trip.  This makes it easier for security to find your child.  Take digital snaps of each of your kids right before you leave, so everyone knows what they are wearing.
3. Tattoo your child!
4. Check the map first.  Start the day off by locating the park’s information centers so you can point them out to your children or get to them quickly in case of an emergency.  Also, look for the first-aid and baby-care centers.
5. Be stroller-savvy.  Put something that will distinguish yours from all the others, like tying a balloon or a bright ribbon on it.  This is especially important if you rent one at the park, as they are all identical. 

Also, you have probably noticed groups wearing identical T-shirts, usually customized with a particular logo.  This is another helpful way to spot your group.  FYI: these tattoos are regulated by the FDA and comply with FDA guidelines.  Temporary tattoos offer a good solution to identifying your child, should he/she become lost in a large setting.  It seems this would be perfect for airports, parks, field trips, malls, or even the first day of school, especially for those children who have allergies or other health issues. 

Source: SafetyTat, My Precious Kid