Preventing Child Abduction
Feb 28, 2009 04:00PM
● By
Super Admin
Ask almost any mom, and she’ll remember a time when her son or daughter
went missing – if only for a moment. She’ll likely describe the aching
panic in the pit of her stomach at the thought her child might have
been kidnapped. But for parents who have actually experienced the
reality, they say the nightmare is indescribable.While child
abduction cases are thankfully rare in our community, local law
enforcement leaders say it’s important for parents and children, from
toddlers to teenagers, to stay educated, prepared and alert. New Tools and Old Beliefs Over
the past decade, the child safety playing field has changed
considerably. Advancements in technology have led to the AMBER Alert
notification system and an international database for missing children.
Yet, we’ve also witnessed the growing popularity of a dangerous new
tool for child predators – the Internet.Unfortunately, old
myths about kidnap prevention remain, such as teaching “stranger
danger,” and the need to wait 24 hours before reporting a missing child
– two mistakes that could be deadly.Detective Sergeant Dennis
Walsh with the Placer County Sheriff’s Department says that
statistically, the vast majority of child abductions are perpetrated by
someone familiar to the child or the family. That’s why
national experts say the “stranger danger” message gives children a
false sense of security around familiar faces, while at the same time
promotes a fear of strangers whom actually could be rescuers. Kidnap Prevention TechniquesThe
key to reducing the risk of child abductions, say authorities, is a
combined effort on behalf of parents, children, law enforcement and the
community, focused in three areas – education, awareness and
preparation. They offer the following tips:For Parents of Younger Children:Make sure your child knows their address, full phone number and parents’ full names.Don’t put your child’s name on the outside of clothing, backpacks or lunch boxes. Warn children about approaching a vehicle or giving out personal information, such as name, address or school, to strangers. Remind
children that adults should ask other adults, not children, for things
like directions, or help finding a lost pet. Role play other scenarios
with examples of common enticements such as candy or ice cream.Watch
for teachable moments where you can practice “what if” scenarios and
point out “strange” adults (security officers, other parents) your
child might safely approach if lost.Have your child’s picture taken yearly and keep a photo and their fingerprints with you at all times. Consider purchasing a GPS-enabled wristwatch or bracelet, or child-locating device.Never leave children unattended in a vehicle. Have your child practice the Buddy System, even in public restrooms. Establish a family code word for emergencies.Screen babysitters and caregivers carefully. Be aware of others who may live or work at the same facility.Teach your child that if a stranger tries to grab him, he should yell loudly for “HELP!” or “I DON’T KNOW YOU!” And then run.Without
a doubt, one of the best tools for prevention is community involvement,
says El Dorado County Sheriff Sergeant Bryan Golmitz. He says over the
last year his office received multiple calls reporting strangers
approaching young children, and they thoroughly investigated every one.
“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to identify and report
suspicious circumstances immediately to law enforcement,” Golmitz says.
“We can’t help if we don’t know about it.”
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