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Carolina Beach uses wristbands to help kids find their parents

Reported by Gavin Johnson - bio|email
Posted by Debra Worley - email

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WECT) - It's easy for parents to lose sight of their children when there are thousands of bodies along the beach.

Now, there's a new program in Carolina Beach designed to help protect kids, by preventing them from getting lost.

"Whenever there's a bunch of kids running around you can't really pick yours out," said parent Samantha Smith.

When a family comes to the beach, the child is given a free wristband that is the same color as the closest lifeguard stand.

"I think it's pretty cool because you never know when your kids are going to take off down the beach," said Smith.  "So it's really good. I think it's something every beach should have.

Each wristband is marked with an N or S representing north or south, helping lifeguards locate exactly where the child's parents are, saving them time they could use spending rescuing people from the water.

"Last year we had close to 40 missing children, and it takes time away from lifeguards from their main function of watching the beach and water," said Simon Sanders with Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue.

Life jackets help keep kids safer while they're in the water, and these wristbands serve the same type of purpose while they play in the sand.

Lifeguards say the program is inexpensive and easy to do.  They also say they will probably have it available every summer.

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