Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with child is lost, use emergency mode.
Do this nowDraft guidance — professional review pending.
AidNow content is under active review. Always contact emergency services for serious emergencies.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A parent or guardian cannot locate their child in a park, market, festival, neighbourhood, or after an outing.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112 or 1098 now. Tell police and security. Give photo and clothes. One adult stays last seen spot.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Child not at meeting point, not answering phone, not with known friends.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Minutes passed since last sighting in crowded or risky area.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Most children are nearby and scared — quick official alert covers exits and CCTV.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Delay reporting shrinks effective search radius.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shout name — listen for response nearby.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Send one person to nearest security or police while you stay put.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Show staff photo on phone — standard lost-child booths at events.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Check toilets, toy shops, food stalls — common hide spots.
When and how to get professional help.
Any missing child under 12 warrants immediate official report — no waiting period.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report and coordinate search. Police lead formal missing-child protocol.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — 112 for police. 1098 Childline for guidance and coordination.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Venue PA system — ask announcer for lost child protocol.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT wait hours before reporting — report within minutes at events.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT leave last seen location entirely — child may return there.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wait 24 hours before telling police a child is missing
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report immediately. Early hours are critical for safe recovery.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Suspect or traffic moves child far away while family searches alone.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Trapped in cave
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person or group is stuck in a cave because of flooding, rockfall, lost passages, or equipment failure.
Confined space
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is stuck inside a tank, silo, pit, manhole, or storage container with limited air and exit.
Mud or quicksand
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is sinking or stuck in deep mud, quicksand, tidal flat, or liquefied soil and cannot free themselves.
Elderly missing
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — An older adult with dementia, confusion, or cognitive impairment has wandered away and cannot be located.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Police and Childline activate formal search and AMBER-style alerts where applicable.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hospital emergency desks receive missing child reports — check there too.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Only search yourself — police are too slow
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Parallel official search covers CCTV, checkpoints, and broadcasts you cannot reach alone.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Duplicate effort while official channels stay uninformed.