Child abduction can occur anytime, anywhere, to anybody no mater what their race, age or sex is. Parents cannot watch their children all the time, but they can educate their children and make certain that they have all the skills, knowledge and confidence to use his or her judgment to protect themselves.
Tips for crime safety and prevention
Parents should not:
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Leave a child alone (even one minute) in a public place, car or a stroller.
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Let children go out with a t-shirt or a toy has the child's name.
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Let young children go to the restroom in a public place by themselves.
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Let children go on door-to-door activities by themselves, such as school fundraising, Halloween, etc.
Let your children know about safe people and homes where they can go if they are in trouble or need help if you are not around in the neighborhood.
Young children should:
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Be taught their full telephone number and address.
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Never say that they are alone if they answer the phone. They can say that their parents are busy at that moment and offer to take a message so their parents will phone back.
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Never answer the door if they are alone.
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Not go into people's houses without letting anyone know where they are.
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Know how to call 911
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Tell parent, teacher or another trusted adult if someone tries to touch any part of their body that a bathing suit would cover.
Teens should:
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Let their parents know where they are at all times by calling their parents or leaving a written message at home.
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Know hitchhiking is dangerous.
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Keep in mind not to take shortcuts through empty parks, fields or alleys.
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Go to the nearest public place and yell for help or run home if they are being followed.
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Learn to be aware of distrustful or suspicious behavior and if possible try to remember a description of the person or the plate number of the car.
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Give it up if attacked for money or something valuable to prevent a risk of injury.
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Ride in cars with doors locked and windows closed. Keep any valuables off the seat.
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Know that they can call you and ask to be picked up at any time and any place.
Safety rules when children are on their own
Children should know when they are out on their own, that there are rules for their safety. Children should be aware that there are a number of important safety tips that they should know so that they can be street-smart kids. Parents should talk to their children about these safety tips, and other tips that they already know.
Teach them:
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Not to talk with strangers that can be a man, woman, younger or older and look neatly or messy.
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Not to get into anybody’s car without checking with his or her parents.
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To tell their parents or a trusted adult right away if someone follows them by walking or a car.
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Not to go near the car if someone asks directions or any other help, in that case turn and run away in the opposite direction. If there is an adult ask them to give the direction.
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Not to agree if anybody else unexpectedly wants to pick them up from the school. In that case they may ask help from a teacher, security officer, or trusted adult.
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To scream loudly for help, if someone tries to force them to go with him or her.
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Never play in deserted buildings or isolated areas.
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Stay together with a friend when they are away from home.
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Not to take candy or other gifts from strangers or anyone else without asking a parent first.
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Saying “no” to an adult is OK. If a stranger asks for help to find a lost cat or puppy, children must let their parents or another adult they trust know about what has happened.
Teach your children what to do if they become lost:
It is very frightening for both child and parent if separated in a public place, such as a mall, movie-theater, grocery store etc. Tell your children what to do if they get lost:
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Stay where you are, don’t try to find your parent.
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Don’t panic.
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Go to the security office or to an information counter to ask for help.
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Tell the person in charge at the counter that you need to find your parents.
If the child becomes lost outdoors tell them:
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To stay where they are instead of wandering around to look for others. Looking around for others might take them even further away.
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Try to signal for help from where they are.
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Call out the others loudly or use whatever you have with you to indicate where you are, such as flashlight.
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Try to stay warm and dry.
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Use your water and food supply wisely.
Rules for Online Safety
When used effectively, the Internet is an invaluable research tool to explore areas of interest for children.
But the same street safety rules apply while surfing the Internet.
Children and teenagers get a great deal of benefit from being online, but they can also be targets of crime and exploitation, as in any other environment. Trusting, curious, and anxious to explore this new world and the relationships it brings, children and teenagers need parental supervision and common sense advice on how to be sure that their experiences in "cyberspace" are happy, healthy, and productive.
Teach your children:
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Not to give out personal information such as name, their address, telephone number, name and location of their school.
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Not to give out their parents’ work address and telephone number.
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Tell you right away if they come across any information that makes them feel uncomfortable.
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Never agree to meet someone they met online without checking with parents.
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Not to go alone even if parents agree to the meeting.
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Not to send their picture or anything else without checking with parents.
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Not to answer any message that is abusive, suspicious or makes them feel uncomfortable and let parents know about it so they can contact the online service.
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That there are rules on going online, such as the length of time they can stay online and the places they can visit.
