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Safety Precautions and Tips:
happy and safe outing at major events
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Have you ever had nightmares that you’ve lost your precious little one in a crowd, followed by a frantic search, then ending up by waking in tears or in a cold sweat?
Subconsciously, we fear that our children can become separated from us in some big place with large crowds, whether it is in a shopping mall, a festival, an amusement park, a swimming pool, a market, or a busy park.
The anxiety and fear can be overcome by well-prepared parents and children. Before the event, we need to talk to our kids about:
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what to expect in the outing
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how not to get lost and stranger danger (and teach younger children what is the meaning of ‘getting lost’)
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what to do if your children becomes separated from their group.
The following should be considered when we take our children to a major event:
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keep a vigilant eye on your children and hold hands if it is a young child;
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remind your children to be aware of their surroundings at all times, tell them that when they can’t see you, you cannot see them either;
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dress your children in bright colored clothing and hats;
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prepare identification items to be carried by your children, including their names, ages, parents and other contact numbers (at least 2 for each child), and specific instructions, for instances of becoming lost or medical emergencies; or label all your children’s clothes and items with your children’s names, parents/emergency contact details.
There are many different styles of child identification. There are stickers that go inside shoes, shoe tags go on the shoelaces, ID bracelets, ID tags to be attached to the children’s clothes, ID cards that can be carried in a pocket, and temporary tattoos.
(Caution: don't put your child's name on the outside of bracelets, bags or clothing - This would give a stranger the opportunity to speak to them by name, making some children feel like the person is not a stranger since they knew their name.);
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choose a prominent landmark in the venue as a meeting place in case of becoming separated;
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teach your children the appropriate people they can seek help from: police officers, security officers, event employees, other mums with small children, perhaps shop assistants/stall holders. Ensure that your children do not go anywhere with any other people except you, and those people he/she gets help from;
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never leave your child alone, nor let the child go to the toilet by himself/herself;
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if a group of you attend the event, set up a buddy system where each person/child is asked to stay together with his/her buddy;
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teach the children to follow the instructions, such as the age, height, footwear, seating, and protective gear requirements of a particular carnival ride;
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what to bring with you
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Food
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Plenty of drinks – be aware of dehydration, in particular in a hot day
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Sun protection: hats, sunglasses and sunscreen, and be aware of sun-safe in outdoor events
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Band aides and medication, eg. paracetamol
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Name identification and emergency contacts on your child
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Mobile phones or other means of communication
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Health & Safety 
