Anti-record for February: 30 children did not contact, left, did not return

Every parent’s worst dream is to lose their child. Almost every day in the Moscow region there are reports that someone has not returned from school, someone has disappeared without a trace while out for a walk, and someone has left home and is not in touch. And in February – just think about it – almost 30 minors were lost in the Moscow region. This is a kind of anti-record that has no explanation yet. In spring, the number of “runners” increases significantly.

What to do in those terrible first hours, when panic and confusion sets in, and the brain is desperately pulsating: “My child is definitely in trouble.” To help parents, MK has compiled step-by-step instructions, which – as we all always hope – will never be useful.

DON’T WASTE TIME

Panic, tears, calling friends and hospitals – this is how parents react when their child does not come home. Nobody knows how to act in such a case, because no one is prepared for this case. There is still a myth about the three-day wait before searching. Until now, many people think that it is not worth informing acquaintances and friends “before the time.” Until now, some parents do not understand that in a conversation with the search party coordinator you cannot hush up anything about your latest quarrels with your child and about his habits.

— There is no three-day rule if you are absolutely sure that the child is lost. In cases where a minor left without permission, the most important thing is to understand why. There are children who are afraid of being punished after mischief, there are those who had a fight with their parents or are tired of overprotection, and there are those who go off in search of adventure, says Nina Mankovskaya, coordinator of the Lisa Alert search and rescue team.

It was this adventurer that the police brought home literally on February 21st. The 10-year-old boy was put on the wanted list on the 20th. It turned out that he was running away for the third time, although his family moved to the Moscow region from the Kherson region just a year ago.

— I was at a friend’s place for the night. He called me to his place in Tuchkovo, and I went. I didn’t have my phone with me. And before that, I went to Moscow a couple of times. “I walked around Moscow City, went into a cafe, and wanted to rush to Red Square, but men in uniform stopped me,” the boy said.

When asked if he promises not to run away again, the boy remains stubbornly silent. And in the eyes there are sparks, like those of a little imp. Mom says that a psychologist will now work with him. He had more freedom in his homeland, and now it seems to him that he can explore the world as he pleases, without consulting his parents. And suddenly the boy decides to become more frank.

— I want to visit my cousins ​​and brother in Kherson. “I miss you,” he admits.

HOW TO CATCH RUNNERS?

— In a professional environment, such children are called runners. And as spring approaches, there are, unfortunately, more of them. Every year we record about 300 cases of children leaving home without permission. Parents, police officers, rescuers, and volunteers are looking for children. In most cases, they return on their own, but a search is carried out every time to prevent a tragedy, explains Ksenia Mishonova.

Fortunately, Lisa Alert volunteers have created a universal action algorithm for parents, which allows them to avoid wrong steps, save time and coordinate the actions of the people involved in the search as soon as possible.

— You need to sound the alarm as soon as you start to worry. There is no three-day rule, it’s a myth. It is necessary to immediately file a police report, regardless of the degree of relationship with the missing person. That is, it doesn’t matter whether you are an aunt or a classmate’s mother. If the application is not accepted, go higher – call the main headquarters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or call 112, says Nina Mankovskaya.

The placement of child identification cards is subsequently agreed upon by the parents with the police and Lisa Alert search engines. By the way, you can contact this squad immediately as soon as you contact the police. Or the operatives will do it for you. By the way, orientations are not always useful. If a child runs away, notices posted around the area or posted on the Internet can scare him away and force him to move. And in a foreign area, he may find himself in even greater danger and become visible to criminal elements.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOST

In approximately 30% of cases, children are lost accidentally. In shopping centers, on the street, playground or in the forest. What to do in such cases?

– When you go with your child to any crowded place, take a photo of him in the clothes he is wearing at the moment. There must be a current photograph. And if something bad happens, you will show this picture to people on the spot. Thus, they will all immediately become your assistants. They will look for this particular child in these particular clothes,” says Nina Mankovskaya.

There are some other practical tips that are important. Dress your child in bright clothes or use “customization” – add one special detail to his wardrobe, be it a unique patch, a handmade scarf or a remarkable belt, backpack, gloves… In addition, you need to write the child’s name on the clothes and Your phone number. The address is not worth it – after all, it is not known who will find the baby.

– If the child is over 4 years old, learn with him the phone numbers of two close adults who need to be called in some emergency. There is also the rule of three O. If you get lost, stop, look around and call out. Teach this to your baby. And also the rule of three N: never go anywhere with anyone. This means that you must explain to your child: it is absolutely forbidden to go somewhere with strangers. You can only contact “safe adults”: people in police uniforms, adds Mishonova.

HELP “MK”

The Lisa Alert squad has existed since 2010. It was formed after the tragic incident of searching for a child in the forest near Orekhovo-Zuevo. The 600 people who participated in the spontaneous search then decided to unite.