| The purpose of this article is to address some of | | | | you to come to his car or house?If a stranger |
| the key points parents need to know in order to | | | | pulls over and asks for help or wants to show |
| keep their children safe.Let them know who can | | | | you something in his car, don't go to the car. |
| help them:When I was an officer I participated in | | | | Stand back and be ready to run. You should |
| something called "Safty Town". What they did | | | | explain that while it's OK for a child to ask a |
| was educated very young children (ages 4 to 5) | | | | grownup for help, grownups shouldn't ask children |
| on safety matters. My role was to visit the | | | | for help. They should be asking other grownups. |
| children while in uniform, then the instructor and | | | | Abductors will use many lures to draw children to |
| myself would educate the children on how to | | | | them:They ask for help, like directions for finding |
| identify a police officer. We would point out things | | | | a pet. |
| on my uniform like my badge, radio, big belt with | | | | They seduce children with gifts, candy, money or |
| all sorts of stuff, and the color of my uniform. | | | | jobs. |
| The purpose was to get the children to | | | | They make threats. |
| understand what a police officer would look like | | | | They pretend to be authority figures, like police |
| and more importantly to let them know that we | | | | and clergy. |
| are there to help them if they need help.Often | | | | They say its an emergency. "Your parents are |
| times when I was on duty and having lunch in a | | | | hurt. I'll take you to the hospital."What do you do |
| restaurant, I would have some parent who was | | | | if a stranger says he's come to pick you up?For |
| having a problem with their young child, say | | | | the safety of your child, you should have a secret |
| something like "If you don't sit up straight I will go | | | | code word that just the family members know. If |
| tell that police officer to arrest you." Or, we would | | | | you ever send someone to pick up your child, |
| have parents bring there children into our police | | | | give them the code word. Your child should not |
| station and want us to threaten to arrest their | | | | go near the car unless the stranger knows the |
| child if they do not wear their seatbelt or for | | | | secret word.What do you do if you think that |
| some other discipline problem the parent was | | | | someone is following you?Don't be alone. |
| having that day. This is a very counter productive | | | | Immediately run to a friend's house or the |
| thing to do. What these parents are telling their | | | | nearest store and tell them. What if a stranger |
| children is that the police are in a sense the | | | | ever threatens you or tries to grab you? Shout |
| boogey man and someone to be fearful of. The | | | | "HELP" and "I don't know you" and "call 911". And |
| major problem with this is; if something happens, | | | | get away fast. Make a big scene so people will |
| the child will be afraid to seek out a police officer | | | | come. Carry and use a personal attack alarm. |
| for help.If you are having a discipline problem with | | | | Most abductors and molesters will run away if |
| your child be the parent and deal with it. Do not | | | | their victim fights and attracts attention with |
| put it on the police department's shoulders, it is | | | | noise.What if you're home alone and someone |
| not their child, nor their problem. Attempting to | | | | calls for your mother or father?A child should |
| have the police department dicipline your child will | | | | never tell anyone they're home alone. Just tell |
| do more harm than good. If you have had a bad | | | | them "My parents can't come to the phone right |
| contact with the police you need to through that | | | | now. I'll take a message." And never open the |
| over the fence when it comes to protecting your | | | | door to any stranger.What if you get separated |
| child. Because like it or not if your child becomes | | | | while you are shopping or in another public |
| missing the first organization your going to | | | | place?Whenever you go shopping, set up a |
| contact will be the police department, no matter | | | | meeting place. If you get separated, don't search |
| how you feel.What is a stranger:It is common for | | | | for each other. Immediately go to the meeting |
| parents to tell their children the danger of going | | | | place. Or ask a police officer, guard, or employee |
| with strangers. The problem is what is a stranger. | | | | for assistance.Encourage children to walk and play |
| What adults view as a stranger is different then | | | | together, to watch out for each other. Young |
| what a child may view as a stranger. Instead of | | | | children should not be out alone, especially in the |
| addressing what a stranger is, you need to | | | | evening.Explain that if they're ever lost or |
| address things a stranger may do and address | | | | abducted that you will look for them until you find |
| dangerous situations your child may have to deal | | | | them. No matter what. This is critical. Most |
| with. This makes it much easier for your child to | | | | abducted children are told by the abductors that |
| understand. Below is a list of common issues your | | | | their parents don't want them anymore. If they |
| child should be made aware of.What if an adult | | | | believe it, they have no place else to go.Know the |
| wants you to do something you don't want to | | | | basics:Another thing that we did at safety town |
| do?First, every child should know that he or she | | | | was to make sure the children memorized the |
| has a right to say "No!". We have a tendency to | | | | following:Their first and last name |
| tell children to obey adults. This makes them | | | | Their age |
| vulnerable to every adult. There are only certain | | | | Their street address |
| adults they should obey. And you should tell them | | | | Their full telephone number with area code |
| who they are. Teach your child to protect their | | | | Their parent's first and last name(s)This |
| personal space from unwanted intrusion.What if an | | | | information is very important and not very hard |
| adult asks you to keep a secret from your | | | | for even a young child to remember as long as |
| mother or your father?No adult should ask a child | | | | someone helps them. It would be a good idea to |
| to keep a secret from their parents. If an adult, | | | | make it a daily practice of having your child |
| even someone they trust like a babysitter or a | | | | repeat the above listed information to you on a |
| relative, ever tells them to keep a secret, they | | | | daily basis, that way they should get it memorized |
| should tell you immediately. Molesters depend on | | | | pretty quick. As a police officer I had come |
| the fact that a child will keep their secret.Definition | | | | across lost children who were unable to give me |
| of a strangerChildren should know that a stranger | | | | their basic information, which made getting home |
| is any adult they don't know well. That doesn't | | | | a lot harder.There are more dangers then just |
| mean they're bad. It just means they haven't | | | | strangers:Another thing that was addressed in |
| earned your trust yet. Even someone they see | | | | safety town was letting the children understand |
| every day, like a neighbor, is a stranger if they | | | | what dangerous things they might find and what |
| don't know them well.What if a stranger wants | | | | to do. |