School trip by tube amidst terror

[Onlyme100]

Hi all. So my dd who is 7yrs has a school trip. The class is to take the tube and visit a central London museum. I cannot sleep and feel so anxious about her travelling by tube. I know we shouldn't "give in" but that's a child. I also checked the govt website which says at current the threat level is "critical". I would feel bad for having her miss out but bad for sending her knowing the threat level. Please all mums out there... please can someone give me some honest advice.

Honestly? I live in central London and my children go to school in central London. Millions of people use the tube every day. The chance of your child being involved in any sort of terror attack is negligence.

Sorry, negligible.

More people are killed by dogs every year in this country than by terrorists. Genuinely. I looked up some stats recently because my kid was supposed to have a trip to London. I say supposed because it's now been cancelled due to parents pulling out. It is worrying, no doubt, but I try and file it into irrational worries rather than actual concerns that need to be acted upon.

They will not be travelling 'amidst terror'.

It's London, not Syria.

London is my home, its where me and my children work, live, play, go to school. I don't feel I'm living 'amidst terror' any more today than when the IRA were bombing places.
No one knows what's around the corner so please don't let your anxiety impact on your DC's life.

there are, officially, around 9 million people living in London, probably more in truth. Many of these are children who happily go to school, go on trips and visits by tube, bus and train. Your child can easily join them for a day, safe in the knowledge that there are more likely to get hurt in an accident at home, or in a car, than travelling on a tube.

Realistically they would be much more at risk from being involved in an accident if they went by coach than being involved in an incident going by tube.

Forget how many die in terror attracts a year in London and how infinitesimally small that number is.

Look up how many people travelled on a day that terror attacks occured and do the math from there on an actual day where terrorism has occurred.

'Amidst terror'?!

Oh please

And how many died from terror?

I also live in London. When I say amidst I mean when it is said to be critical. FYI. ..I know we are not in Syria!!!!!

Thankyou for the genuine advice from other parents😊. For those that got caught up on the word "amudst" and do not understand the fact that I am simply asking for advice then please refer to the above post.

Onlyme100, if you live in London then I don't understand your issue? What is it about the school trip that you think is more dangerous than just living in London generally?

Hi margolovebutter....I guess it's the whole Parsons Green thing that happened and the fact that they are so young. Also it's playing on my mind that another local high school has cancelled trips.

Hasn't the "threat" been critical for a long time? More people are hit by cars and buses than injured on the tube. Presumably they won't travel during rush hour and in supervised groups.

It's at 'Severe' isn't it?

The threat is pretty much always at severe or critical.

It means nothing really.

I think you are over-worrying, but that is easy for me to say.

You have to satisfy yourself that the risk is so tiny that statistically the likelihood of your son coming to harm is negligible.

Or you could also ask the school if there is an alternative method of transport. I don't know how central you are, but would buses be an option? Would that make you feel any better?

Hi margolovebutter butter. Thankyou. I think the school is only taking the tube option. I really don't want my anxieties rub of on my dd. I may have to grit my teeth and send her. ....I guess that's the vibe I'm getting from other posts too😣😣

Your child will be fine. I understand that you are anxious, but your anxiety is unnecessary. More children die , or are hurt, in car crashes, house fires, attacks by their own family, dog attacks, drowning accidents or crossing the road every single year than have been hurt by acts of terrorism in the last 50 years in the UK.

London is not a war zone. It is one of the safest capital cities in the world, the transport system is safe, secure , well monitored and maintained and reliable. Millions, think of that, MILLIONS , of people use the tube safely everyday .

Yes that is very true....thankyou 😊

You are being over anxious I'm afraid

I can get like this too but it isn't a rational fear as you know. Would it help to think like this:

Everything carries risk. NOT taking the school trip carries different risks. What is the risk to your DD of not going on school trips? What about the increase in air pollution caused by teaching people the tube is dangerous and putting more cars and buses on the road? (Air pollution is a huge health problem). Risk to your DD's mental health that her environment is considered too dangerous to go out in?

You have to take risk in life, you're just choosing which ones.

I know it's not easy

Do you not occasionally travel on the tube and train with your child if you live in London? Thousands of children travel across London every day to school and activities.

I find it helpful to try to think of terror attacks as just another very unlikely thing that might happen. I might be in a car crash (much more likely, as many other people have said) but I don't think that every time I get in a car and it doesn't stop me going in a car. My bus might crash, but I don't think that every time I get on a bus. Someone might not stop at a zebra crossing, but I still cross the road. I might choke on my food, but I still eat.

We're currently at Severe, not Critical.

I agree with others - we can hyperfocus on large, very unlikely risks such as a terrorist incident because of the public attention they get - but bigger everyday risks are much closer to home and we're fine with them.