Tips in preventing child abduction

Reports of abductions have parents extremely concered and worried on how to protect their little children. Everywhere we hear in the news that some child is being forcefully kidnapped or lured into accompanying some stranger by using candy as bait.
Here in this blog, I've picked up some helpful tips from an internationally acclaimed health and safety expert on how to protect your children against abduction.

1. Have a family password. Teach your child that they can't go anywhere with anyone (even a relative) without your parent's permission, unless the person coming for you knows the family password. Practice situations so that the child understands the kinds of circumstances in which a person who doesn't know the password might be persuasive. Even if someone tells the child she must come along because her parent is in the hospital, she should ask for the family password.

2. Don't advertise your child's name to strangers. Don't put your child's name on the outside of clothing or possessions.

3. Help your child memorize important information: their first and last name, complete address and telephone number. Start with simpler imformation such as street name and color of your house. Teach children what 911 is and why people call. Children as young as 3 have been taught to successfully make 911 calls.

4. Teach your child the tricks abductors may use. Some lines an abductor might use: I'm lost. Can you tell me how to get to . . . ? I've lost my puppy. Will you help me find him? Teach your children that adults should not be asking for help from a child.

5. Teach your child when to scream, kick, yell and run. If someone tries to take you somewhere without your parent's permission, that's when he should scream, kick, yell loudly "this not my father/mother" and quickly get away from this person.

6. In public places, never let a small child out of your sight. Teach children not to run, walk or even hide from parents. Provide children with instructions of what to if they get separated from you. Also, teach them that they can ask a mom with a child for help as well.

7. Teach your child to always ask permission before going anywhere with anyone. (Friends and relatives included.) Ask even if it's to run next door for just a second to see the new puppy.

8. ALWAYS supervise children, especially while they play outdoors. Invest in a comfortable lounge chair to use for these occasions.

9. Invest in a monitored home security system. (At the very least, install audible alarms or tones on the doors and windows, which lets you know when someone enters or leaves your home.) Have solid-core doors for all entry points and equip them with good quality deadbolt locks. Use motion sensor lights near or around entry points. Install a peephole in your front door and use it before opening the door. Teach children never to open the door or to let anyone (even a friend) into your home without first asking permission. Do background screening and reference checks on everyone who works at your home, particularly babysitters or nannies.

10. As an additional layer of protection, parents should consider purchasing a child monitoring device (such as a watch), which can be a very valuable tool in quickly locating a missing child. It may cost more but what's important here in the protection of your beloved little darling.

Lastly, keep important information on hand: a current color photo (update frequently); up-to date dental and medical records, a video of the child, a complete description of the child, fingerprints, and a DNA kit.


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