Keep Your Child Safe from Abduction

Parental abductions and runaway cases make up the majority of missing children in the United States. In 2001 there were about 725,000 children reported missing, or nearly 2,000 per day. The vast majority of these cases were recovered quickly; however, the parent or guardian was concerned enough to contact law enforcement and they placed the child into the FBI's National Crime Information Center – a computerized national database of criminal justice information. It is available to Federal, state and local law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies.       

Each year there are about 3,000 to 5,000 non-family abductions reported to police, most of which are short term sexually-motivated cases. About 200 to 300 of these cases, or 6 percent, make up the most serious cases where the child was murdered, ransomed or taken with the intent to keep.       

There are predators out to get your child.       

Here is what you need to do to keep your child safe from abduction.       

Always listen to your children and keep the lines of communication open. Teach your children to get of out of dangerous or uncomfortable situations right away, and practice role-playing and basic safety skills with them.       

Be sure to go over the rules with your children about whose homes they can visit when you're not there and discuss the boundaries of where they can and can't go in the neighborhood.       

Choose babysitters with care. Obtain references from family, friends and neighbors. If you leave your children with a full time care giver (nanny) install a Web camera without her knowledge so you can check in on your children over the Internet while at work. My personal view is that it is better for your child's caregiver to have her privacy violated a little than for a bad caregiver to harm your child. Of course, you have to decide what is more important – your nanny's privacy or your children's safety.       

Make sure your children know their names, address, telephone numbers and how to use the telephone – cellular and pay phone as well as your home phone.       

And, teach your children in whose car they may ride. Children should be cautioned never to approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless accompanied by a parent or trusted adult.       

The flowing are a list of things you should teach your child to avoid abduction.

* Children should always check first with your parents or the person in charge before they go anywhere or do anything.

* Use the buddy system and take a friend when you play or go somewhere.

* Don't be tricked by adults who offer you special treats or gifts or ask you for help.

* Don't be afraid to say no and get away from any situation that makes you feel uncomfortable or confused. Trust your feelings.

* Don't get into a car or go near a car with someone in it unless you are with your parents or a trusted adult.

* Never take a ride from someone without checking first with your parents.

* Never go into a public restroom by yourself.

* Never go alone to the mall, movies, video arcades or parks.

* Stay safe when you're home alone by keeping the door locked. Do not open the door for or talk to anyone who stops by unless your parents have told you that the person is safe to be with.       

In the event your child is ever abducted it is important to have your child fingerprinted by the police and work with your local police to create an information kit about your child now. Info Kits help you organize your child's unique information so that all necessary information, including recent photos, is readily available should it ever be needed. The kits are not official IDs and no identifying information is kept at the police department. These are tools for you to use to help collect, organize, and keep your child's information.       

As in all safety activities, do all you can to prevent harm to your loved ones but also be prepared for the worst.

~ SafetyIssues Staff Writer