Social Services reinforces the safety of children and adolescents with identification bracelets.

The Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance (SMAS) will participate in the Rio de Janeiro City Hall's Summer Operation, starting this first weekend of 2026, distributing identification bracelets to children and teenagers on the beachfront. On Saturday and Sunday, January 3rd and 4th, as well as on subsequent weekends of the operation, SMAS technicians will be at two beach access points in the Southwest and South Zones: at Praça do Ó, in Barra da Tijuca, and at Arpoador, in Ipanema.

– With the beaches crowded, it's necessary to reinforce precautions. Parents and guardians need to be extra vigilant to prevent children and teenagers from getting lost. Those who can leave home with some type of identification should do so. If that's not possible, we will be at these two locations to distribute wristbands. It's an important initiative because it helps families quickly locate children if they get separated – explains the Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance, Martha Rocha.

On the wristbands, SMAS technicians write the name and contact information of the child's or adolescent's guardians. In addition to identification, the Secretariat's professionals are on standby to respond to situations of rights violations and to actively seek out and provide temporary shelter for vulnerable individuals. Both at Praça do Ó and Arpoador, the teams will be in tents with the SMAS emblem, and the public will be able to easily identify where to take the child or adolescent to have the identification wristband fitted.

On New Year's Eve, Social Services provided this service around the 13 stages set up for the 2025-2026 New Year's Eve celebration. A total of 3.523 children or teenagers were identified with the wristband. There were five cases of children getting lost, all of whom were duly returned to their families.

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January 2, 2026

Appointments: teenagers Kids Operation Summer beaches bracelets New Year's Eve Southwest Zone South Zone