No kidding-preparation the key to preventing abducted, missing
children
Did you know that, according to figures from the RCMP,
approximately 186 children are reported missing each day in
Canada? That's one almost every 7.75 minutes; recent US
statistics are much more alarming, somewhere in the United
States approximately every 40 seconds a child is reported
missing. In fact, by the time you have finished reading this
article, the odds are that another child has been reported
missing or abducted. The thought that a child could be taken
or go missing is a very real fear that all of us, as parents,
share. Naturally, we want to keep our children safe, but we
can't watch over them 24 hours a day. I am frequently asked by
parents for advice on what they can do to protect their
children. I'd like to share some advice with you so you can
reduce the risk that such a tragic event will ever befall your
family.
First, teach your child his or her full name, address, phone
number and your full name. That way, if they are ever lost, they
can give this information to a police officer. You should also
teach them how to dial 0 or 911 in the event of an emergency.
After all, the sooner they can make that call for help, the
better. Whether going to school, band practice or a friend's
house, they should always follow the same route without taking
any shortcuts.
A family password is another great idea to help protect your
child. It should be something that is easy to learn and
remember, and should be unique to your family. It could be tied
to a special event- such as a birthday or vacation-or it could
be your maiden or middle name.
Because there are bound to be times when your older children
are home alone, there are a few simple rules they should follow.
Make sure they understand not to let strangers in the house
while you are gone. If someone calls, tell your kids to take a
message, and that they should never say you are not home.
Safeguarding your kids when home alone is one thing, but how can
you protect them when out in public at a mall, movie theatre or
grocery store? One-way is to tell them to go to the information
booth or checkout counter if you should become separated, and be
sure your kids know where they are located. You should also tell
the to yell and fight if a stranger should try to hurt them, or
force them to go somewhere else. Creating a scene can prevent an
attempted abduction.
One tip you may have heard from schools is to sew your child's
personal information into their clothes or personal items, such
as backpack. Unfortunately, a stranger can use this same
information to assume the role of a family friend and gain the
trust of a child. A better solution is to contact and register
with a child identification service that will provide you with
coded iron-on identification labels.
If the unthinkable should happen, and your child is missing or
abducted, contact your local police force immediately. In this
situation, a Child ID kit, in which the child's fingerprints,
recent picture, specific identification features as well as a
hair sample, is truly the most helpful item parents can possess.
In the event that this precaution has been overlooked, provide
them with as much detail about your child as possible, including
a recent photograph, a hair sample from a pillow or hairbrush
and, if there is a search planned, a recently worn piece of
clothing.
Finally, make the time to talk to your children regularly on
ways to stay safe. It takes repetition and positive
reinforcement for them to learn these tips. Activities and
coloring books promoting safety are a very good idea for very
young children, and the time you take to prepare them now will
go a long way toward protecting them from harm in the future.
Scott Irwin is the Marketing Director and Atlantic Regional
Director for Child I.D. Labels inc., which has been protecting
and providing ID for children and families across North America
for more than 10 years. He can be reached at
scottirwin@childidatlantic.com. Visit:
http://www.childidatlantic.com to find out more about Child ID's
unique proactive and preventative approach towards child
identification and child safety and how Child ID can help you to
protect and keep your children safe.