An amazing 134 children were reported missing on the coast yesterday. The figure for one single day represents almost a third of all the children that were reported missing in the whole month of July. Hot weather meant large crowds on the beach and many parents failed to take the simple precautions needed to ensure their offspring didn't go astray. Most children were lost in the top resorts of Ostend and Blankenberge (West Flanders), where you could find the largest crowds.
Before yesterday, a total of ‘only’ 300 children were reported missing in the course of July. The run-of-the mill, everyday weather during much of the month didn’t attract excessive crowds. Monday and Tuesday were different. ‘One tropical day and everything gets out of hand,’ explains An Beun of the coastal rescue service.
‘Good weather means lots of people on the beach and, unfortunately, lots of children get lost. Yesterday was an extremely hot summer day with tons of people on the beach, making it easier to lose sight of one another.’
‘A lot of mums and dads also like to enjoy the beach. Often, we see parents settling down on the beach or at a beach bar, while the kids are free to go and play. But that, of course, is asking for trouble.’
Wristbands are a must
‘The children are the parents' responsibility. They should keep a close eye on them. Together with your children, you can also go through a couple of practical things to avoid losing sight of each other.’
‘For example, you can give them a free wristband with your phone number, agree on a landmark, show them who the lifeguards are, and above all, accompany your children when they go swimming in the sea or play further along the beach!’