The radio piece pricked my mind, about my daughterie going missing yards from our seaside home, to put out our informational Holidos and Don’ts beach safe.
With this British island baking on the hottest day of the year at the weekend our beaches became blocked with day trippers.
And on one beach,West Wittering in Sussex on the English south coast, on one day 40 children went missing with all thankfully found.
Porty time
Just like the Daughterie some half an hour after going walkabout from our then-home in Portobello, Edinburgh’s city beach.
Thankfully, of course, Porty was our patch with both her and us knowing the lay of the land, our neighbours, and they knew her.
But if you’re new to a beach then the likelihood is you won’t.
And your little prince or princess will slip your leash for just a moment and set your heart racing.
Listen up
These days, of course, there is advice aplenty at hand so don’t be too proud to follow it.
The first thing to do is get your bearings and agree a meeting spot if your little one gets detached from you.
Perhaps take a photograph too of all of you at the beach.
So that if the worst happens then those looking for Kiddo can see what they look like and what they’re wearing.
Make sure too that both yourselves and your children have their mobiles with them and that they’re charged.
Which in the case of today’s youngsters and many adults shouldn’t be too difficult.
While some beaches even give out wristbands so kids can put their details and telephone number and address on.
And if it goes wrong
Of course the best-laid plans gang aft agley as the great human observer, bard and fellow Scot Robert Burns opined.
So know who to report your missing child to.
And the Coastguard is on 999 which too many people don’t know.
With that in mind too another thing to flag up is flags.
With red flags naturally an alert that swimming is prohibited.
While a yellow drapes indicate moderately hazardous conditions.
The good news, of course, is that it is extremely rare that you will not be reunited with your child within a short time.
While strangers are for the most part friends that you just haven’t met yet.
I scream for ice cream
Which was what one caller found when their toddler was found at an ice cream van.
Where a kindly family had protected the lost boy and bought him an ice lolly.
With said lad, in a world of his own, only concerned that they hadn’t got him an ice cream.
Out of the mouths of children.
And something alas we can’t advise on in our informational Holidos and Don’ts beach safe.
