KEEPING SAFE AT PUBLIC EVENTS

If you are taking children to an agricultural show, the local shopping centre or going to a sporting event, you need to make sure they will be safe.

Safety House offers the following ideas to help you and your family to stay safe.

PLANNING YOUR OUTING

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME


• Write your children’s name, address and telephone number (your mobile number if you have one) on a piece of paper and pin this INSIDE your children’s outer clothing.


• Dress your children in clothing that is easy to pick out in a crowd or from a distance (such as a bright yellow or striped shirt).


• Discuss the type of event you will be attending and stress how important it is to stay close to mum and dad or whoever is accompanying the children.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE VENUE

• Decide on an easily identifiable meeting place such as a part of the main grandstand or a hot dog stand where you will all meet up if you become separated.

• Smaller children should be told to stand still and wait until someone comes looking for them.

• Point out the police officers and tell your children to ask them for help if they become lost.

• Use a child harness to keep control of your children who do not want to be confined to a stroller all the time.

• Never let your children go into the toilets unsupervised, even if they assure you they are quite old enough!

• Tell your children that they should never leave the grounds whatever the circumstances.

• If they feel in danger they should ask a police officer for help and if no one of authority is around they should ask a woman with children to help.

• If you see the Safety House sign on the First Aid tent or Police Office, point it out to your children and tell them it would be a safe place to go to.

A LARGE INDOOR EVENT

This type of function is often held at night, so be prepared for your children to become
tired and want to go to sleep. Take a small pillow and a favourite rug.


Here are some other ideas to keep your children safe . . .

• As well as information on your children’s name and address pinned inside their outer clothing, write your seat number.

• Never allow your children to leave their seats to go to the toilets, to buy drinks and snacks, or to run around unsupervised.

• If you get separated when leaving the event, tell your children not to leave the building but to wait inside the nearest entrance until someone in a uniform approaches.

Information Courtesy of Safety House Australia Inc.
For further information please contact the Safety House Association in your State/Territory, or your local Police.