Cooper's Hill near Brockworth, is 4 miles southeast of Gloucester
and is on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment.
Cooper's Hill - Considering
Children At The Cheese-Rolling.
Bringing children to the Cheese-Rolling at
Cooper's Hill, requires careful pre planning and consideration to ensure their
health and safety and enable them to have a great day out at the event.
Please remember to ensure you
have sufficient water to guard against de-hydration.
In past years the weather conditions have, on occasions, been cold wet and
windy, you should pay particular attention to clothing to guard against
hypothermia, should conditions on the day take a turn for the worse!
During the Cheese Rolling event
and for a short period before and after, the area is extremely crowded,
particularly at the major pressure points, these, in particular being the
lane leading to the bottom of Cooper's Hill for the last 200 metres and
especially the area at the entrance to the hill from the lane in the vicinity of
the St. John Ambulance Facility Area.
Children generally, and
particularly those children under the age of 12 will require special attention
in this area due to the danger of being injured or crushed by the crowds. It
should be remembered that children in particular will have a very limited view
of their surroundings and may easily become disoriented or lose contact with
their parents or guardians.
The highly crowded nature of
the immediate area means that during the event and for a period, both before and
after the event, the area is totally unsuitable for prams, pushchairs, buggies
and the likes. The use of these may lead to the danger of injuring members of
the public, even causing them to stumble and fall onto the small occupant.
For parents wishing to attend
with children, the key advice would be to arrive very early in the day and to establish a
position on the hill, but away from the throng of the crowds at the lower parts. There are
footpath alternatives to obtain access to the top of the hill, rather than
following the lane to the bottom. If in doubt ask the advice of one of the
marshals.
Consider if possible, attaching
your mobile phone number to the Childs clothing, or possibly writing it on their
hand, as this will ensure you are quickly re-united should they stray away from
you in the crowds. Remember, a small child only 1 metre away from you, may not
be able to see you and may become distressed.
Children, apparently under the
age of 12 years, identified as lost or separated, will be held within the Press
/ Announcers compound for their safety and will only be released into the care
of their parent, guardian or other responsible person.
Care
& Protection of Lost Children Under 12 Years Old.
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