Ohio mother Krista Piper Grundey found herself in a panic when she momentarily lost sight of her 3-year-old daughter, Lily, in a busy museum. “My immediate reaction was to call out her name,” recalls Grundey, 36. However, she then remembered a helpful tip she saw in a TikTok video where a mother shared her experience in a similar situation. “She advised calling out a description of what your child is wearing so that people know what to look for,” Grundey explains. “So I began shouting, ‘Little girl, pink Minnie Mouse shirt!’ and other parents joined in, echoing the description.” Shortly after, Lily was located safe and sound. “I was overwhelmed with emotions while Lily remained blissfully unaware that I had been frantically searching for her,” Grundey reflects.
Grundey later shared her experience on TikTok, receiving numerous supportive comments. “I once witnessed a mother doing the same at a park, and the child was quickly found because people recognized the description,” one person shared. Another commenter recounted a similar scenario at a mall where a missing child was located within seconds after a bystander overheard the description being called out.
In 2020, children’s author Jess Martini went viral with a public service announcement about the effectiveness of “looking loudly” to locate a missing child in a public setting. Martini advised specifying details such as the child’s age, appearance, and clothing to engage the surrounding community in the search effort. She also recommended dressing children in bright colors when attending crowded places to make them more conspicuous.
The incident with Lily Grundey serves as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant and prepared in public spaces, as well as the power of community assistance in ensuring children’s safety. This story was originally featured on TODAY.com.
