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Safe summer

How to keep your child from getting lost on the beach

A busy beach is one of the easiest places to lose sight of your child — crowds, look-alike swimwear, and noise from wind and waves. A few agreements before you head down to the water make it far less likely that a moment's distraction turns into a frightening search.
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Six tips that prevent it

  1. 1

    Agree on a fixed meeting point

    Show your children one clear landmark — the lifeguard tower, a particular flagpole or your parasol — and agree: if we get separated, we go to the meeting point and wait. A child who knows exactly where to go rarely wanders far.
  2. 2

    Take a photo of your child every morning

    A quick photo on the beach shows exactly what clothes and swimwear your child has on today. If you ever need to ask others for help, you have an up-to-date description ready instantly.
  3. 3

    Teach your child your phone number

    Practise the number like a little rhyme — or write it somewhere your child always carries. If a child can give a parent's number to an adult or a lifeguard, you're reunited within minutes.
  4. 4

    Dress your child in a bright colour

    A bright red or neon-yellow hat or swimsuit is far easier to spot in a crowd than muted colours. Choose something that stands out — and take note of it before you spread out.
  5. 5

    Agree who is watching the water

    If there are several adults, agree clearly who has the children right now — otherwise everyone assumes someone else is watching. Drowning happens silently and in seconds, so always keep small children within arm's reach at the water's edge.
  6. 6

    Give your child a QR ID wristband

    An ID wristband is your child's voice when they can't recall the number or are too scared to say it. The AYA wristband has a QR code: an adult who finds your child scans it with their phone — no app at all — and you instantly get a message with your child's location. One more tool that brings your child home.

If your child does get lost

If it happens, remember: most children are found within minutes and close to where they were last seen. Do this:
  1. 1
    Stay calm and look toward the water first. Safety at the water's edge matters most — check it immediately.
  2. 2
    Stay where you were last together and send another adult in a circle around the spot.
  3. 3
    Alert the lifeguard or beach patrol. They're trained for exactly this and can start a coordinated search.
  4. 4
    Give a clear description — show your morning photo and say what colour your child's clothes are.

Give your child a QR ID wristband before the next beach day

The AYA wristband is a small, waterproof band with a QR code. No app, no account for whoever finds your child — just a scan, and you get a message straight away. Activate one wristband at a time as you head out.
Buy AYA wristbandLearn more about AYA wristbands

Frequently asked questions about beach safety

What's the best way to keep my child from getting lost at the beach?
Agree on a fixed meeting point before you go down to the water, dress your child in a bright colour, and make sure they can give your phone number — from memory or via an ID wristband. Also agree clearly among the adults who is watching right now.
What should my child do if they get lost?
Teach your child two things: go to the agreed meeting point and wait — and ask an adult with children, a shop or a lifeguard for help. If your child wears an ID wristband, any adult can scan it and contact you directly.
From what age does an ID wristband make sense?
As soon as your child is old enough to walk around on their own at the beach but too young to reliably remember and give your phone number. For most families that's from around 2 to 8 years old.
Does the AYA wristband work without an app?
Yes. Whoever finds your child simply scans the QR code with their phone's camera — Android or iPhone — and needs neither an app nor an account. Only you, the parent, use AYA to receive the message.
Is an ID wristband the same as a GPS tracker?
No. AYA doesn't track your child and has neither GPS nor a battery. The band is passive and only shares a location if an adult actively scans the code to help. It's a complement to good agreements — not surveillance.