We carried out a survey here on the website between the 21st of May 2008 and the 21st of June 2008 to see if parents were more concerned about the safety of their children while on holidays now a year after the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. An overwhelming majority of 81% of parents said that they were more concerned. Clearly this has led parents to rethink their approach to child safety and security on holidays. The disappearance of Madeline McCann was a terrible tragedy and no parent can even begin to think about it without thinking what if it happened to us. Parents are likely to be more cautious now about childcare and child minding decisions that they make while on holidays. They are likely to ask more questions about security and qualifications which is a very positive thing and if anything positive can come from such a tragedy this is it. Holidays are often in unfamiliar surroundings with language barriers and different customs however they are when we are most relaxed and in the past parents may not have considered potential dangers. It is very easy to let down your guard while on holidays as they are all about relaxing and fun. A responsible approach and some simple commonsense safety precautions mean both you and the children can have a great holiday.
Security and safety is clearly now a real issue for parents. Tour operators and accommodation providers should be conscious of this and do what is possible to allay those concerns and provide appropriate back up and facilities. Spending family time together in a secure environment is likely to be more important for parents now and shared family activities that everyone can enjoy together during both the day and the evening are a good way to achieve this. Having good approved and checked babysitting facilities or supervised evening activities while parents have a meal is a also good idea. Some hotels have taken this on board and have pyjama parties or movie nights for the kids and it is likely that the hotels and tour operators who do react to parents concerns are going to see a better take up.
Simple precautions should be more than enough but if you are in any doubt or feel uneasy do not take a risk. Talking to your children to make them aware of what they should do if they get lost or even trying to get them to memorise your mobile number or have it written on a wristband at a big busy event are simple but effective things you can do without being too dramatic. This should also be at the forefront of the minds of event organisers and tour operators.
There are services such as those provided by www.familysafeholidays.com to help families in the event of an emergency whether it relates to missing documents, medical issues or a missing child. The basic package is free and they provide help, advice and accessories to help keep children safe on holiday, both at home and abroad. This allows you store key personal and travel information that may be needed in a hurry. You can upload a close-up photo of each family member, record any medical conditions or medication and enter all your contact details (both mobile numbers and contacts of where you are staying). In the event of an accident or incident, the family can have access to the service and be able to create a missing poster within minutes. This poster can be automatically translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German and then be made available over the Internet or sent via email to any appropriate person or organization. I know this sounds extreme as abductions are rare but children are prone to wandering off and it may well be worth the effort for ease of mind. Have a look at some of our top tips for safety and security on the main website and have a happy and a safe holiday.