The Ministry of Emergency Situations is launching a new information campaign "Be Close to Your Child!"

Cases of child fatalities and injuries are recorded annually in our country. Often, the decisive factor in the occurrence of such incidents is the lack of adult supervision. Sometimes appeals do not yield the desired results, remain unheard, and parents, in turn, pay little attention to teaching children basic safety rules. But worse still, they sometimes set an example of unsafe behavior themselves.

To once again draw parents' attention to the existing social problem, employees of the Research Institute of Fire Safety and Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus have approached this issue on a large scale and created a new information campaign "Be Close to Your Child!", the implementation of which will become a new approach to solving this difficult task.

To interest and involve parents in teaching children safety, organize their useful leisure time, change previous views, and help them realize the necessity and importance of this process – this is how the Ministry of Emergency Situations employees see the implementation of this campaign. To influence parents' careless attitude towards children's safety issues, to motivate them not to leave children unattended – this is the main goal of the information campaign.

Many parents believe that a child can be left alone at home even for a few minutes, especially with a phone, as there is

the ability to contact him at any minute. And to keep a child entertained, cartoons, games, or videos can be played on the gadget. This way, the child will be under their control and safe. But this is a misconception. Parents forget the most important thing: in the moment of danger, a phone call cannot protect or save a child from harm.

A new information campaign aimed at preventing child deaths in fires and at bodies of water will be launched across the country in August. It is based on the established notion of parental control over their child using a phone and demonstrates situations where a child is in danger, and the parent can only call, but not help. At the same time, when creating outdoor advertising, there is no demonstration of a child in immediate danger. The child's role is taken over by a children's smartphone. It is the phone that ends up at the epicenter of the tragedy. This is the main idea: behind the seemingly bright picture – the phone, which has replaced the expected child in the frame – lies a very important message, revealed in a concise slogan. "A phone will not watch over your child!" – this phrase, combined with the visual, fully shows the consequences of irresponsible attitudes towards children's safety. It is the catchy slogan, combined with an unconventional image, that is the most effective way to "hold" the target audience's attention on the raised issue and call them to action.

It should be noted that the success of the project depends on many factors, so the Ministry of Emergency Situations employees approached it with scope – a whole brand package has been developed, all aimed at drawing parents' attention to children's safety.

To ensure the widest possible dissemination of the information campaign, bright billboards will be placed in the vicinity of settlements. Leaflets with useful information will fill the internet space and update stands in all public places across the country. Original booklets with safety rules for mothers and fathers, appearing as notifications on a conditional phone screen, will become the main tool for EMERCOM employees during campaign events. The brochure "Safety Encyclopedia for Parents," designed in watercolor graphics style, illustrates in an accessible way all sorts of dangers that may befall children on the street and at home. This type of visual and illustrative product will help reinforce the acquired knowledge for visitors to safety education centers, as well as for parents attending presentations by EMERCOM employees in work collectives.

Thus, rescuers will reach the maximum target audience and strive to connect with every parent – to urge them not to leave children unattended, to stay close to their child to prevent potential tragedy, and to teach them safety rules.

Do not stand aside: join the campaign and ensure a safe childhood for your children!