Beaumont Police are preparing for the beginning of the South Texas State Fair and will be focusing on child safety.
As vendors begin to set up their food booths and test out rides, Beaumont police are working behind the scenes to make sure people will be safe.
They want to emphasize it’s important to have a plan just in case your child goes missing.
“The kids will be excited and run out and get scared and when they get in panic mode it gets even worse,” said Beaumont Police Officer Carol Riley.
Officer Carol Riley with the Beaumont Police Department suggests parents safety pin an emergency phone number and address inside of their kids clothing especially if they are younger.
If a child goes missing there will be a “Lost Children” area right by the Beaumont Police Department trailer.
"We are taking numerous measures to make sure everyone is safe," said Officer Riley.
Officer Riley said another issue is traffic delays during the busy fair hours.
She wants to emphasize people should carpool and drop people off in the designated areas instead of attempting to cross several lanes of traffic in the pitch dark.
"I realize that sometimes traffic does slowdown but that still is not safe, do not put your passengers outside of the vehicle or drop them off on the interstate or frontage road," said Officer Riley.
She also wants people to pay attention to the weather forecast and to stay hydrated when it is hot and humid outside.
"Do everything you can to make your time enjoyable, we want you to have a very safe fair experience," said Officer Riley.
Beaumont Police want to emphasize if you see something unusual at the fair to report it to an officer.
From Beaumont Police Department:
Safety tips from the Beaumont Police Department:
South Texas State Fair Traffic and Safety Information
The South Texas State Fair will open Thursday, March 22, 2018 and end April 1, 2018. Safety is our first priority. The Beaumont Police Department will provide security on foot, on bikes and on motorcycles.
Try to CARPOOL if possible. Be prepared for traffic delays during peak times: Friday and Saturday between 5pm and 8pm. Plan for delays getting in and out of the parking area two hours before and after the rodeo. Officers and civilians will be directing traffic and ask that you pay attention to signs. Stay off your cell phones and drop passengers off in designated areas. Do not drop off passengers on I10 or the frontage roads. This is an ongoing problem and extremely dangerous.
The following are some steps that citizens can take to protect themselves:
1. Check the weather before you head out to the fair. Keep rain gear, sunscreen or a jacket depending on the forecast. Stay hydrated and wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
2. Carry cash and debit or credit cards in a secure location.
Do not flash your money. Be discreet.
3. Pay attention to where you park, where you enter the fair and take an extra set of car keys. Lock your vehicle and hide any valuables.
4. Discuss a meeting area and time with your group.
5. NO WEAPONS allowed.
6. For small or non-verbal children, parents should safety pin their child’s name, parent’s name and phone number in a jacket or pants pocket or put the information on a piece of paper in a pocket. Use your cell phone to take a picture of your children in the clothing they are wearing that day.
7. Tell your children if they get lost, they should only approach a Police Officer. There will be uniformed officers on the midway about every 50 feet. Point these officers out to children. There will be a lost kids booth located by the Beaumont Police Substation, on the mid-way.
8. If you lose a child, locate an officer and provide that officer with the child’s description. That description will be broadcast immediately to all other officers.
9. For older kids, have them meet you hourly at a designated location to check on their welfare.
10. Instruct children not to go to the parking lot without an adult.
11. If you see a problem notify an officer. "See Something, Say Something"
