How To Keep Your Loved Ones Safe At The State Fair

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (WCCO) -- With more than 100,000 people walking through the fairgrounds every day, it can be very easy to lose a loved one.

There are quite a few measure families can take to make it easier to find a lost person.

Each day, State Fair police get at least 10 to 15 reports of missing children and some adults.

Wristbands available at the fair can help reunite families in minutes by including basic information.

"What we have the parents do is put the child's name and then their name and cell number," said Connie, a fair employee.

"That's a really great idea," said parent Jim Ortman, who had not heard about the wristbands until WCCO told him about them.

Ortman uses gadgets to keep track of his 8-year-old Brynn. He says no parents wants to find themselves looking for their little one.

"Oh yeah, oh yeah. It's a big concern," said Ortman.

"Alert their loved ones that there are police officers out here and we're in blue, tan, white," said State Fair Police Department spokesperson Brooke Blakey.

At any given time during the 12 days of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, Blakey says at least 100 uniformed officers are walking around ready to help.

Using the app Group Me they exchange the most up-to-date information about any person that goes missing from his or her group.

One of the most important things Blakey says people can do is take a picture of individuals in their groups the moment they arrive at the fair, to help just in case someone gets separated.

"Snap that photo right when you come in at the fair of you guys underneath the awning so that you have a current photo of what you have on," Blakey said.

Wristbands are available at each fair info booth.

Even though kids and parents are usually reunited within minutes, even a few minutes can seem like forever for those parents.