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Child Safety - is YOUR child protected?
Written by: Kimberly Vetrano -- Web Site: FUNtastic Letters & Wraps
It's a parent's worst nightmare. You are with your family in a crowded
store. You turn for just one moment to look at something then turn back
to realize your child is not beside you. Your heart feels like it's
stopping while terror takes over your body. Thankfully your child is
just a few feet away and everything is fine again. Sadly, for thousands
of families each year this story does not have a happy ending.
The F.B.I. receives on average 2,000 missing children reports each day.
In the United States a child goes missing every 40 seconds, 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year. And according to the US Department of Justice and
the World Almanac the chances of a child of being abducted at 1 in 42.
These statistics are not to scare you, but rather to express upon all
parents and caregivers the importance of teaching your children how to
stay safe as well as to make sure your children are properly identified
in the event they are missing or abducted. Most people make sure that
they have an identification tag for their pets, but never consider the
importance of having identification for their own children.
So what can parents and caregivers do to protect their children? There
are many steps that parents and caregivers can take to help their
children.
It is very important to have proper identification for their children
available in case a child goes missing or is abducted. It is important
to have a current picture of your child as well as their fingerprints
and a DNA sample. There is a new product available now that will allow
you to have your child's teeth prints preserved as well since dental
records are often used for identification. Such products are readily
available and inexpensive. All children should have proper
identification on record and have it updated each year.
Another very important thing that parents and caregivers can do to
protect their children is to make sure that their children always wear
some sort of identification that is not easily seen. T-shirts with a
child's name on it or a button on their jacket is not a smart thing for
a parent to do. Sure, children love wearing clothing with their names
boldly printed on them, but for the would be child abductor knowing a
child's name just makes them an easier target. Instead parents should
utilize non-obvious forms of identification on their children such as a
Child ID Scope and identification bracelets where your child's name and
your contact information is printed on the inside of the bracelet so
that it is not easily seen by others.
Other important tips parents and caregivers can use to help protect their children:
* Never allow children to go anywhere without telling you about it first.
* Make sure you know exactly what your child is wearing that day. Take
a mental note of their shoes, shirt, pants and anything else they might
be wearing so you can recall it if needed. You can make a game of it as
well. See if your child can also recall what you have on as well. That
way if your child should become separated from you they can tell
someone what color your jacket is or what color dress you have one.
* Go over the rules about strangers with your children whenever they
leave the house. Such "rules" would include never talking to strangers
unless it someone who is trying to help them such as a police officer
or store employee. Remind your child to keep a safe distance from
strangers and in the even a stranger tries to grab hold of them your
child should shout at the top of their lungs "Help! You are not my
Mommy/Daddy". It is also important to teach your children not to fall
for the typical "lures" that abductors use such as helping them to
locate a lost pet or child.
* Should your child become separated from you, teach your children to
remain in one spot and not to wonder around. Tell them that you will
come and find them by back tracking where you were. You can also point
out store employees to your children so that your children know they
can tell them that they are lost and need help locating you.
* If your child should get lost from you and cannot locate a police
officer or uniformed employee instruct your child to seek out a mother
with children rather then someone who is alone. Mothers are more likely
to help out a young child.
* Teach your children to trust their intuition. If they feel
uncomfortable about a person or situation your child should feel that
they could talk to you about these feelings. Always listen to what your
child has to say and never just dismiss anything without finding out
"why".
* Create a special "code word" that only you and your children know. Do
not share this code word with anyone unless they need to know. Teach
your children that they are not to go with anyone, no matter what they
say (such as "Mommy wanted me to come and get you") unless that person
can give them the secret "code word". If that person does not know the
code word then instruct your child to run away as fast as they can.
If your child does go missing try not to panic. First check all around
you to make sure that your child has just not wondered off. If you
still do not find your child then go ahead and call the police
immediately. There is no waiting period to report a missing person.
Make sure you can describe what your child was wearing, where they were
last seen, and hand over important documents to the police such as your
child's current photo, finger prints and DNA samples. Request that they
enter your child's information in the National Crime Information Center
Missing Person File (NCIC). You can also call the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST and request to have
your child's information entered into their database.
Your child's safety should be your number one priority. With a few
simple steps you can help protect your child. Your child does not have
to become a statistic. With some common sense and a serious approach to
their safety you can help protect your child from becoming a victim.
And make sure you approach this subject in a non-threatening manner.
You want to teach your children how to keep safe, you don't want to
alarm them or make them fearful.
(c) 2004 Kimberly Vetrano is the owner of Child Safety & More
(http://www.ChildSafetyandMore.com) and FUNtastic Letters & Wraps
(http://www.FUNtasticLettersandWraps.com) and specializes in Child
Safety ID Products, educational books and other family related products
& services
Security and Crime Prevention Tips
Using
these crime prevention tips along with added security items such as
motion detectors, hidden surveillance cameras, hidden security cameras,
nanny cams, wireless hidden video cameras, your home and business can
be a safer place! |
PERSONAL SAFETY & PROTECTION
There is no fool proof style of living to recommend that may reduce the
risk of your becoming a victim. Personal safety is a matter of common
sense. But there are practical measures that you can do to reduce the
risk of becoming a victim. There are three elements for a crime to
exist:
1. The criminal, which you cannot control
2. The victim, which you cannot control
3. The opportunity which you CAN control or reduce
Here is a short plan:
1. Avoid being a target. Tough targets are not selected. Criminals
are usually stronger, but usually not smarter. They are also creatures
of opportunity. They will steal a car, purse, or break into a house.
Usually if your instincts tell you there is something wrong…it probably
is.
2. Do not allow the criminal to have privacy. Go towards light away
from darkness, go toward people. Manage private places you cannot deny.
3. Attract attention. Call “Help” or “Fire”, criminals don’t want
to be caught. Scream for help. If you see someone else in trouble,
yell, honk your horn, or yell that you will call the police. Sometimes
this could stop a crime.
4. Take action. Initiate contact between the attacker and the
victim. The attacker has the least control. Action must be immediate
and fast. Don’t hesitate! If a situation makes you feel uncomfortable,
act on your first instincts. You have the right to protect yourself.
Don’t Forget:
• Bad guys don’t always look like bad guys.
• Everyone is responsible for his or her own personal safety – Have a Plan!
• Crime can happen to anyone!
• Look tough
• Walk with a purpose – with confidence
• Keep your valuables out of sight
When initiating a plan for personal safety:
• Don’t carry weapons for protection. They can be used against you.
• Always have a reactionary plan in mind and practice crime prevention in every situation.
• Carry a personal security alarm
• Your very best defense is to be alert and cautious
• Avoiding a situation is better than trying use resistance. Try to
be aware of situations that might be developing around you that will
give you time and opportunity to run away.
• If you see someone attempting to steal your purse or belongings,
give them up. Possessions can always be replaced and more easily than
to heal broken bones.
• If you are forced to give up your belongings, throw them to the
ground several feet away from the thief, and run in the opposite
direction, yelling “Help” or “Fire”.
• DO NOT allow the attacker to take you to another location. Your
odds are improved for survival if you can escape or yell for help at
the point of the initial attack.
• If you are attacked, yell and scream. This will create attention and
may discourage the attacker. Shouting “No, no, no” or “Help” or “Fire”
may also discourage an attacker and draw attention from others to the
attack.
• If you are being pulled along or dragged against your will, fall
to the ground and roll. This will make it harder for the attacker to
control you and may enable you to break free.
PROTECTING YOUR HOME SECURITY
• Keep doors and windows locked.
• Make your home looked “lived in” with inside light timers and
good outside lights. At night, use timers to turn on lights and
appliances (such as a radio) in a pattern much like your normal
activity. This gives the illusion that the home is occupied and may
help to deter a break in. At night, properly placed lighting can also
deter burglars.
• Make sure there is a clear view of your doors and windows by trimming
all shrubs and trees. Windows hidden by bushes or trees provide
burglars with an ideal place to work undetected.
• Check identification of any sales and service representatives coming to your door.
• Install deadbolts on exterior doors and insert screws in the
upper track of patio doors to prevent the door from being removed from
outside.
• Get to know your neighbors.
• Do not respond to obscene phone calls…just hang up immediately.
• Carry plenty of insurance on your home and contents. Keep any valuables in a safe-deposit box.
• Record all serial numbers and mark your property in case of theft. Keep an inventory of your property.
• If you come home and suspect that someone has broken into your
home, DO NOT ENTER. Call the police from a neighbor’s phone, cell phone
or pay phone.
IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT
Report any suspicious person hanging around the entrance or lobby of your apartment to your superintendent.
Avoid doing your laundry alone or during late hours. Try to arrange
with a friend or other tenant to do this chore together during daylight
hours.
Always try to park in a well-lit area near the exit or elevator if
possible. Don’t leave valuables in your car, and certainly not in plain
view. Report suspicious persons in and around the parking lot, burned
out light bulbs and broken locks to the landlord.
Treat the entrance to your apartment building as if it were your
own front door. Before “buzzing” someone in, verify that he or she is
the person you’re expecting.
FOR YOUR BUSINESS
After closing, a business owner should make it a habit to:
• Leave the drapes open
• Have enough lights left on to allow passing motorists and police to have a view of the inside of the building.
• Merchandise and signs should not obstruct the view of the interior.
• Cash registers should be left OPEN at the front of the store to reduce temptation for intruders.
• Safes should be visible from the outside and securely attached to
the floor. If you are storing money in the safe make sure it is the
type that is burglar resistant. These safes are generally small, with
round doors and are constructed mostly of steel. They are designed to
resist physical attacks and are available in various strengths.
• Restrict the number of employees with keys or combinations. Key control is just as important as having good secure locks.
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