What to do if a child gets lost?

During the forced flight from the occupation and shelling, children can get lost. There are dozens of reasons for this, but the main one is that there is unfamiliar terrain around, children look around, get distracted, and lose sight of their parents. Adults at this time are busy with many vital things. Naturally, they pay less attention to children, concentrating on other things.

What parents should do to reduce the risk of losing their child:

• hold your child close to you, stay close to him or her for as long as possible
• Hold the little ones firmly by the hand if you have to pay attention to something or someone else
• talk to your child in advance, agree on where you will meet, develop an algorithm of actions and "rehearse" several times
• If the child is young, put a note in their pocket with your phone number or other contact information
• if over 3 years old - learn your cell phone number together, explain where, when and to whom you can tell it
• teach your child to ask for help, tell them that there is a police in every city, there are uniformed officers at every train station, and that it is better not to ask for help from strangers
• take a recent photo of the child on your phone to show what the child looks like and what he or she is wearing, if necessary
  What parents should do if their child is already lost:
  Do not panic, take a deep breath and gradually exhale three times, let your body relax and let the blood and oxygen reach your brain
• If the child has a phone, call him or her
• Remember what you agreed with your child about where to look for him/her if he/she gets lost
• If you are with relatives, ask them to stay in the place where you last saw the child
• contact the nearest police station or call 102
• ask people around, show a photo on your phone taken beforehand
• If possible, make announcements over a loudspeaker

What should those who notice a lost child do?

• ask people nearby if it is their child, ask the child, make sure the child is lost
• do not get too close, do not try to hug, take the hand, keep a distance, but watch the child
• talk to the child, if he or she answers you, reassure him or her, tell him or her that parents are already looking for him or her
• take the child to the nearest police station or call 102
• Do not leave the child alone until the police arrive

When the child is found, do not scold him or her in any way. The child did not do it on purpose - he or she did not want to get lost. The child, like you, has experienced a lot of stress. It is necessary to show him all your love and care in this state.

Psychological support hotline fromPledges» the number 0 800 4000 23 is available:

• free
• throughout the territory of Ukraine
• from all mobile operators
• for calls from abroad +38 050 493 03 07
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