What to Do If You Get Lost: A Guide for Children

What to Do If You Get Lost: A Guide for Children

At the Billy Barker Days parade in Quesnel, BC, we witnessed firsthand the distress of a young boy separated from his family in a large crowd. Clearly anxious, he was searching for his mom. Fortunately, an RCMP officer on duty quickly intervened. Calm and professional, the officer reassured the boy, gathered the necessary details, and within minutes reunited him with his worried parents.

That moment stuck with us. It reinforced just how important it is for children to know what steps to take if they get separated from the adults who are looking after them. This experience is exactly why we created our What to Do if You Get Lost bookmarks, designed to teach kids how to stay calm and get help when they find themselves in such a situation.

Introducing the Bookmark

To help children understand how to stay safe if they get lost, we’ve created the What to Do if You Get Lost bookmark. The front of the bookmark features colourful, engaging cartoons by Edd Uluschak, designed to both educate and entertain. The cartoons depict different scenarios of children seeking help when they’ve lost their way—whether it's approaching a store information desk, asking a friendly adult for help, or locating a police officer.

On the back, clear steps outline what children should do if they find themselves lost:

What to Do if You Get Lost Bookmarks
  1. Stay calm: Take a deep breath and don’t panic.
  2. Go to a safe place: Like a store, help desk, or information booth.
  3. Look for someone in uniform: Such as a police officer, security guard, or store employee.
  4. Give your name: Provide your name and describe the adult you are trying to find.
  5. Stay in one place: Never wander off to search on your own.

The bookmark also reinforces a key safety reminder: children should always stay close to their parents or guardians when visiting busy places or unfamiliar environments.

Memramcook, New Brunswick RCMP Find a Lost Child

In a similar situation, a four-year-old boy wandered away from his home in Memramcook, New Brunswick, earlier this year. The RCMP quickly launched a search, deploying officers, police dog teams, and aerial drones. Just an hour after the boy was reported missing, Cpl. Annick Theriault and her police dog Reba found the boy safe in a nearby wooded area. This quick response ensured the boy was returned to his family unharmed.

Read More: Quick action saves missing 4-year-old boy.

RCMP Tattoos

This story highlights why it's crucial for children to know what may happen when people come looking for them. It's essential to prepare them for the possibility that they may encounter a police officer with a large search dog. The children need to know that it might be frightening, but the officer and ther dog are there to help.

To reinforce this message, our new bookmarks can be paired with RCMP-themed tattoos and stickers featuring an officer and their police dog. These serve as a friendly reminder that help may come in many forms—including a Mountie with a dog by their side!

Conclusion

With the right knowledge and preparation, children can stay safe and calm if they ever get separated from their caregivers. Our new bookmarks and fun RCMP-themed items are designed to make learning these essential lessons easy, engaging and memorable. It’s all about empowering children to take the proper steps and ensuring that they understand help is always nearby.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.