It goes without saying that every parent should teach their kids the basic child abduction prevention rules or tips so they know how to steer clear of harm’s way. In the United States, around 460,000 children are reported missing each year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Of this estimate, more than 1,400 are taken against their will. That’s a pretty scary statistic.
National Missing Children’s Day is observed every 25th of May but the focus on these missing kids and the safety of our children, in general, should last for more than just one day. Take the necessary steps to educate everyone, not only your children, on how to keep your home and community safe for each and every child.
Start off by teaching your own kids the top child abduction prevention rules.
Child Abduction Prevention Rules at Home
Home Invasion
Surprisingly, many children who have been abducted are taken from their own homes. In 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was taken by Brian David Mitchell from her home in Federal Heights, Salt Lake City. Mitchell broke into their home and took Smart at knifepoint. After nine months of hell, Smart was rescued. Mitchell was later sentenced to two life sentences while his wife and accomplice, Wanda Barzee, got 15 years of jail time. Barzee was released in 2018 and was spotted living near a school.
Smart’s abduction could have been avoided had there been proper safety measures at home. We’re not putting the blame on anyone here other than Mitchell. The point is there are ways we can prevent home abductions. Aside from getting a dog, installing a security system, and securing the doors and windows (Mitchell got in by slashing the screen of an open window), you should also teach your children what to do in case of a home invasion.
Lock Up
One of the simplest yet most effective child abduction prevention rules you can teach your kids is to lock the door. If you’re leaving your children alone at home, they should know to close and lock the door immediately after you leave. They don’t have to watch you leave. They can do so from the windows. Make sure they lock the front door before driving off. Of course, you should have checked if the back door is closed before going out. Once you’re gone, your kids should keep the doors locked. They should never open the door for anyone even the delivery person.
Password
Once they’re inside, they should close and lock the door behind them and then call you on the phone. As your child talks to you, he or she should do a quick look around the house. They should look for something amiss such as open windows or damaged back door. If they think someone is inside, they should keep calm and talk to you casually. Mention a casual password that you have agreed upon to alert you that something is wrong. Once you hear the password, you should hang up and call the authorities while on your way home. After you hang up, your kid should keep talking on the phone to give you and the police more time.
Call 911
Dialing 911 is one of the top child abduction prevention rules that applies to all kinds of emergency situations. Every member of the family even the small ones should know what 911 is for. In the event of a home invasion, your kids should immediately head to the designated safe room. If this is not possible, they should go to a backup room. These rooms should have deadbolt locks and a phone for them to call for help. After giving the details to the operator, don’t hang up so the operator can listen and record what is happening including the voices of the perpetrators in case they talk to the child.
Child Abduction Prevention Rules at School
A number of missing children have disappeared while on their way home from school. One of the child abduction prevention rules that would prove vital in this scenario is to never walk alone. Ideally, you should pick your child up from school. If that’s not possible, you should have someone you truly trust do this. A school bus is another option.
Don’t Walk Alone
If the school is near your home, your child can walk home as long as he or she is accompanied by another student who lives nearby. Make sure they know to go home directly and stick to the same route. If they have their own phones, have them a text or call you before they start walking. They should also have their phones ready in case of an emergency.
Everyday Carry
Aside from a phone, your child should have some everyday carry (EDC) in their possession. These items are necessary for emergencies. A flashlight, for example, is needed if it gets dark. An emergency whistle is also a good thing to have.
Teach your child to blow the whistle to scare off an attacker and to catch the attention of other people. It may not be ideal for a small child to carry pepper spray. However, bigger kids, particularly teenagers, can have one as long as they treat it with respect.
Stranger Danger
The concept of “stranger danger” is getting mixed reactions. Understandably, many parents tell their children not to talk to strangers because they might hurt them or take them away. However, some argue that most abductions are done by people known to the victims. There is truth to this.
Just to be on the side of caution, tell your kids that your list of child abduction prevention rules includes not interacting with strangers. In case someone they don’t know starts to approach them and they are still near the school, go back immediately. Tell the security officer or a teacher at school about the stranger and call your parents to pick you up.
If a stranger in a car pulls up beside your child, he or she should know not to talk to the person. Also, they should never ever get in the car. When someone approaches you asking for help to, say, locate his missing dog, don’t go with him. Teach your child not to talk, walk, or go anywhere with strangers. They should never accept anything from someone they don’t know. Basically, don’t trust strangers. Remember the case of James Bulger, the two-year-old boy who was abducted, tortured, and killed in 1993 by a couple of 10-year-olds? Yep, even young boys can’t be trusted.
Cutting Class
A child who jumps the fence to “escape” school will be in trouble for two main reasons. One, the school and the parents will reprimand the naughty kids for cutting classes and leaving without anyone knowing. Second, leaving school without prior notice puts them in harm’s way. What if a sexual predator or a gang member spots them and chooses them as their next victims? It’s a horrific thought but things like this happen.
Child Safety Rules at the Playground
The Amber Alert was created after 9-year-old Amber Hageman was abducted in Arlington, Texas. She was riding her bike in a parking lot near the home of her grandparents when she disappeared. Her body was later found eight miles from where she was taken. Her abduction and death remain unsolved.
There are a lot of children abduction prevention rules to be followed, especially while at the playground since sexual predators like to hang out in such places.
First of all, your child shouldn’t be playing outside or in the playground unsupervised. Make sure you or someone else is watching your child play. Teach your child to scream or get your attention when someone tries to grab them. They should also never leave your sight. It’s your job to keep your eyes on your children but they also should know not to wander too far from you. The child abduction prevention rules concerning strangers also apply here.
Internet
Technology has its many advantages but there are some offshoots that are quite horrific. The internet, for example, is a good thing when used right. However, evil people are using it to do their evil ways. We’re not just talking about internet trolls, Russian spies, and supposed collusions. We’re talking about sexual predators roaming the internet to lure children away from their families.
The most important child abduction prevention rule when it comes to surfing the internet is to, again, never talk to strangers. These people browse social media platforms looking for someone who can easily be fooled. Once they’ve chosen their target, the online predators will shower the child with attention, praise, affection, and sympathy. In many cases, this online interaction will lead to the teenager agreeing to meet up with the other person. Many of these young people know they will be engaging in sex when they agree to meet up. However, this can easily lead to abduction.
As parents, you should enforce rules on the use of gadgets and the internet. You should also be wary of what goes on with your children’s social media accounts. There are also tell-tale signs if the child is being targeted by an online predator. One of which is that the child is spending more and more time in front of the computer or on her smartphone. Watch out for calls, mails, gifts, and packages from strangers, as well.
If Your Child is Being Abducted
All the child abduction prevention rules can only do so much. A persistent predator will find ways to abduct his or her target. Aside from prevention, you should teach your child what to do if they are taken against their will.
Huffington Post shared a list of things a child can do when he or she is being abducted. This includes the Velcro technique, which is simply to grab hold of something and hang on for dear life.
No parent in their sane mind wants their child or children to disappear. This is the worst nightmare parents can ever have. Keep your child safe by reading up on various articles on the topic such as these ones from Kid’s Health and Fatherly. Make sure your kid is well aware of what you learn.
Aside from teaching the young ones all the child abduction prevention rules you can think of, you should also be visible. If you’re always with your child, predators will likely look somewhere else for their next victim. Speaking of, you should lend a hand to those who have lost their child. Start off by taking a good look at the faces of some missing children.
Please check The Gentleman Pirate, as well, to know more safety and survival tips. Who knows, they may come in handy someday.
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