Child Abduction

CHILD ABDUCTION.

A CRIME THAT PARENTS CAN HELP REDUCE BY EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN AND THEMSELVES.

BELOW ARE SAFETY TIPS:

AT HOME

1. Teach your children their full names, address, and home telephone number. Make sure they know your full name.
2. Make sure your children know how to reach you at work or your cell phone.
3. Teach your children how and when to use 999 and make sure your children have a trusted adult to call if they’re scared or have an emergency and you can be reached.
4. Instruct children to keep the door locked and not to open the door to talk to anyone when they are at home alone. Set rules with your children about having visitors over when you’re not at home and how to answer the telephone.
5. Choose domestic workers with care. Obtain references from family, friends, and neighbors. Once you have chosen the domestic worker, drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing. Ask your children how their experience with the domestic worker was and listen carefully to their responses.

AT SCHOOL

1. Walk the route to and from school with your children, pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they’re being followed or need help. If your children ride a bus, visit the bus stop with them to make sure they know which bus to take.
2. Remind kids to take a friend whenever they walk or bike to school. Remind them to stay with a group if they’re waiting at the bus stop.
3. Caution children never to accept a ride from anyone unless you have told them it is OK to go so in each instance.

OUT AND ABOUT.

1. Take your children on a walking tour of the neighborhood and tell them whose homes they may visit without you.
2. Remind your children it’s OK to say NO to any thing that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused and teach your children to tell you if anything or anyone makes them feel this way.
3. Teach your children to ask permission before leaving home.
4. Remind your children not to walk or play alone outside.
5. Teach your children to never approach a vehicle occupied or not, unless they know the owner and are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult.
6. Practice ”what if” situations and ask your children how they would respond. ” what if you fell off your bike and you need help? Who would you ask?”
7. Teach your children to check in with you if there is a change of plans.
8. During family outings, establish a central, easy-to-locate spot to meet for check-ins or should you get separated.
9. Teach your children how to locate helps at parks, sports stadiums, shopping malls, and other public places. Also, identify those people who they can ask for help, such as uniformed law enforcements, security guards and store clerks with nametags.
10. Help your children learn to recognize and avoid potentials risks, so that they can deal with them if they happen.
11. Teach your children that if anyone tries to grab them, they should make a scene and make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting.