With excursions and outdoor pursuits hot on the family agenda at summertime, parents and carers need to keep a watchful eye on their children, warns leading child safety product distributor Clippasafe.   

Roger Cheetham, MD of the family-run firm and Clippasafe's resident child safety expert says that parents need to take action when accompanying youngsters out and about, especially with the 30th anniversary of International Missing Children's Day (25 May 2009) coming up.

"Over 100,000 children go missing each year according to Parents & Abducted Children Together (PACT) - that equates to one child every five minutes," said Roger.

"This alarming figure should alert anyone looking after children to take extra special care, particularly in the heat of summer when kids will want to explore and venture further outside.

"My advice to parents would be to make sure they know their family's whereabouts at all times. But when looking after toddlers and inquisitive young ones, use a child safety harness or wrist link as this will help keep them close, since they can't run off out of sight once the device is securely fitted, but they can still move about and play moderately freely."

Roger also warns that drowning is one of the top three causes of accidental deaths for under five's, with most of these tragedies occurring during the summer holidays.

"Ponds should be covered or fenced off with a locked gate, and paddling pools should be emptied and packed away every day after use. Parents must also be aware of visits to parks, nature reserves and the seaside, and take note of any nearby containers that may have collected rainwater."

Missing Children's Day was first recognised in the US following the disappearance of six year old Etan Patz on 25 May 1979, who was last seen on a street corner in New York on his way to school. Visit www.missingpeople.org.uk for further information.