Parents become very alarmed when they cannot find their children, so it is important that when parents come up to you saying that their child is missing, that you try to help calm them down. Immediately find a sheet of paper and ask them questions about their child. These are things you need to make sure that you find out BEFORE you make a radio report.
- Name
- Age
- Race
- Sex
- Hair/Eye Color
- What they were wearing
- Where they were last seen
- How long they have been missing
- What possible direction they may be heading
Once you find out this information and have looked in your area, keep a parent with you until the child is found. To begin your radio call say; “Attention all ____ (North, South, or Central depending) guards. Please stand by for a missing child report from the ____ (insert your stand)”. Once someone acknowledges you then you give your report. A typical report would be; “Island Vista is missing Lily, she is a five year old caucasian female with blond hair and blue eyes. She is wearing a pink one piece and was seen 15 minutes ago heading South.” Someone will usually copy your report and the search will begin. Once the child is back with their parents you radio and say; “Island Vista, child has been reunited with their family”.
Many times you can also find lost children on the beach, they are usually running or walking along the water’s edge alone looking distressed or potentially crying. You should immediately go up to them and ask where their parents are. If they say they don’t know, then bring them and sit them in your lifeguard tower or a set and try to get the following information from them.
- Name
- Age
- Race
- Hair/Eye Color
- What they are wearing
- Where they think their hotel is/the name of the hotel they are staying in
- What possible direction they came from
- Family’s names
- And anything else you deem important to the search
To begin a found child report say; “Attention all ____ (North, South, or Central depending) end guards. Please stand by for a found child report from the ____ (insert stand)”. Once someone acknowledges you then you give your report. A typical report would be; “Island Vista has Lily, she is a five year old caucasian female with blond hair and blue eyes. She is wearing a pink one piece and thinks her parents are at the Dunes Village, their names are Beth and Jim and she also has a brother named Duncan she is looking for. I found her by the water with a pink princess boogie board”. Someone will acknowledge your report and you need to keep the child with you until the parents are located. Once the family is together you would radio that the found child has been reunited with their family.