Sint-Truiden (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): On busy beach days many kids get lost highlighting the need for parental supervision. Lifeguards can’t monitor all children so improved safety measures and communication are essential.
on a sunny day at the beach a lot of kids got lost,like 134 of them.One little 3-year-old had a scary moment at Plopsaqua Landen-Hannuit and had to be saved in the wave pool. The mayor said the lifeguards aren’t there to watch kids all the time. Lifeguards at the beach and the Flemish Lifeguard Federation also stressed that.It has been said that it can get really tough sometimes like at De Halve Maan in Diest where about ten kids go missing in the water zone on busy days. They check the pool bottom quickly to make sure no child is in danger. It’s a big relief when they find the kids safe on the beach.
How can parents ensure child safety at busy water areas?
The boss at De Halve Maan said that when it’s super busy about ten kids go missing in the water area. This shows that with so many people there it’s hard to keep an eye on all the kids. The place is so popular that it’s tough to make sure all the kids are safe and with their parents. De Halve Maan needs to make things safer by having more lifeguards, clearer signs,and better communication with parents. Doing these things will help them look after the kids better and make sure everyone stays safe at the water area.
The boss at De Halve Maan says that parents sometimes think the lifeguards will watch their kids at the pool. But actually it’s not the lifeguards’ job to babysit. Some parents even sit outside having a drink while their young kids are alone in the water which is not safe. In other swimming pools like Lago in Pelt and Sint-Truiden,kids under 10 must be with an adult for safety. They remind parents not to leave their kids alone and give free armbands to help keep track of kids. Everyone needs to work together to keep the kids safe.
“The safety of the children is a shared responsibility, but we certainly also count on the parents”
Bert This Regional Manager Lago Swimming Pools
At the playground in Bokrik kids sometimes get lost on busy days but they’re usually found within five to ten minutes. There’s a central spot where parents and kids can meet up if they get separated. They use loudspeakers to help reunite them quickly.
