Many parents recommend teaching kids what to do in the event that they are separated.
In his new book, Parking Lot Rules and 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children, Tom Sturges says that children should remain in one place once separated from their parents and draw as much attention to themselves as possible by flapping their arms up and down like an angel's wings. He calls the practice the Fly Like an Angel Rule.
Sturges, an executive vice president for Universal Music Publishing, said the book speaks to real-life experiences in raising two boys. As a toddler, the older child once got away from him while the family was checking into a Las Vegas hotel.
"I look up, and there's our 3-year-old son getting into an elevator across the lobby," said Sturges. "He gets in and the doors close and he disappears, and time has no meaning because you've lost your child. But it was much ado about nothing: Three minutes later, the elevator comes down and he comes out."
Some child-safety items are designed to be hidden until activated.
The AmberWatch child alarm is made for digital watches and backpacks. When activated, it emits a 110-decibel alarm that can be heard 400 yards away. The digital watches sell for about $30, while the backpack sells for about $35.
Safety 1st offers a Keep Child Close Tracker, a two-unit set (one for parent, one for child) that alerts the parent when a child wanders out of 80-foot range; it sells for about $25.
Hand-held GPS devices, meanwhile, allow parents to track a child's whereabouts on a digital display screen with a press of a button. Some allow children to activate distress signals as well. The devices sell for about $250.
Although some high-tech safety products might be out of a family's price range, they can be vital, as every second counts when a child is lost.
"If they help to find one missing child," safety expert Holtzman added, "they're worth it."
Keeping kids safe
Here are some low-tech child safety tips from safety expert Debra Holtzman, author of Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living
* Don't advertise your child's name to strangers. Don't put your child's name on the outside of clothing or possessions.
* Make sure that your children know their first and last names, as well as their complete address and phone number. Make sure children know how to contact you at all times. Children must also know how to dial 911 or 0 for emergencies, and know how to make collect calls.
* In public places, never let a small child out of your sight. Teach children not to run, walk or hide from their parents. Also, provide children with instructions on what to do if they get separated from you. Point out and identify specific people the child can ask for help. Teach your young child to stay put and to not go looking for you.
* Keep everyone unplugged. Don't let kids listen to their headphones or play hand-held video games while walking with you.
