Summer beach wristband safety scheme starts
BCP CouncilA safety wristband scheme to help lost children and vulnerable adults find their parents or guardians has begun along Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's beaches.
The free paper bands are available at all seafront offices and RNLI lifeguard towers along 15 miles of the coastline as part of BCP Council's LV= KidZone scheme.
Parents or guardians write their mobile number and location on the band - if they become separated the child or vulnerable adult can find an RNLI lifeguard or council seafront ranger who will ring and reunite them.
The joint scheme, run by LV=insurance and BCP Council, supported by the BCP seafront rangers and RNLI lifeguards runs until 1 September.
The beaches involved:
- Bournemouth: Alum Chine through to Fisherman's Walk, Southbourne
- Christchurch: Avon, Friars Cliff, Highcliffe
- Poole: Sandbanks, Shore Road, Branksome Chine
From 19 July, the beaches of Bournemouth, Boscombe, Alum and Durley Chine will have LV= KidZone teams working alongside the rangers to give out wristbands to families.
Kester Sheppard, RNLI lead lifeguard supervisor for East Dorset's beaches, said: "We know how easy it is for young children to become separated from their families while on a day out at the seaside.
"These wristbands allow us to reunite worried parents or carers with their little ones quickly and ensure that everyone makes it home safely and happily from our brilliant beaches this summer."
BCP Council said last year it helped 118 lost people find their parents or carers.
The safety scheme has been running during summers on the beaches since 2007.
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