CHILD SAFETY BASICS MUST BE

CHILD SAFETY BASICS MUST BE

REINFORCED FOR OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS

Jeffrey H. Witte, M.S.

D.A.R.E. Officer and

Certified Crime Prevention Specialist

Springdale, Ohio Police Department

February 6, 2004

The recent abduction and murder of an 11-year old Florida girl is a painful reminder of a very important lesson: basic safety rules are not just for "little" children. Safety rules must be reinforced for older children, including teens. As children get older, they typically have more freedom and less direct supervision. However, that additional freedom should not put their personal safety at risk. Parents and children alike must recognize their individual roles and responsibilities in safeguarding each child’s personal safety. Child abductors and molesters generally look for children that appear to be "easy" targets. Below are some guidelines to aid parents and children – including teens – in reducing their risk of becoming a victim.

PARENTS MUST…

Establish, monitor, and continuously reinforce clear rules regarding behavior and safety, including rules for when children are home alone or are going to and from school, a friend’s house, sports, work, or other activities.

Never underestimate the vulnerability of children to be victimized. Talk to your children, and make sure they are educated about dangers they may face. Be available to listen to your child’s fears or concerns.

Always know where their children are, who they are with, and what they are doing. Know when they will be home, and what route they will be travelling. Parents should always be able to quickly locate their children. (While a cell phone for teens might be helpful for keeping in contact, it does not assure that you can locate your child if something has happened to them.)

Arrange reliable transportation for children, and provide for appropriate supervision at all times.

Make sure the child’s school keeps track of attendance, and promptly calls parents when a child is not at school. Also, if parents are not home in the afternoon, children should call them as soon as they arrive home after school.

Have a family "Code Word" so your children will know if someone is authorized to pick them up from school or give them a ride.

Have records readily available if their child is abducted- fingerprints, recent photographs and videotapes, DNA samples (like an intact hair, with follicle attached), and access to dental and medical records. (Having a regular family doctor and dentist helps to ensure that complete records are available.)

Call the police promptly if their child is missing, or is overdue and can’t be located.

CHILDREN MUST…

Follow their parents’ rules, and basic safety guidelines, at all times.

Use the "buddy system." Always travel with one or more trusted friends (or an adult). This even includes when using the restroom in a public place.

Understand that any stranger can be dangerous. There’s not a certain way a dangerous person looks, or even acts.

Stay in well-lit, well-traveled public places.

Not take shortcuts.

Avoid dark or isolated areas.

Walk on the sidewalk, but as far aware from the roadway as possible.

Stay away from unfamiliar places, and avoid strangers.

Avoid walking or playing while wearing headphones, which may keep them from hearing a stranger approach.

Always let their parents or guardian know where they will be, who they will be with, what they will be doing, when they will be home, how they will be travelling (walking, riding, etc.), and what route they will be taking.

Know how to contact their parents at all times- at home, at work, or by a cell phone.

Know how to quickly locate other responsible adults if they need help.

Know how to call the police using 9-1-1. (9-1-1 works from a pay phone without inserting coins.)

Know that they are not invincible- there are dangerous people, and anyone can potentially become a victim.

Not be afraid to ask for help or seek out a safe location when they feel threatened.

Be willing to talk to their parents about their personal safety.

IF CONFRONTED BY A STRANGER, CHILDREN SHOULD…

Loudly and firmly say "No" to any overture from a stranger.

If followed by a stranger in a vehicle, turn and walk the other way. Go quickly to the nearest safe place (home, friend’s house, school, etc.) or to a crowded public place and seek help.

Run if threatened or chased- scream loudly for help.

If grabbed, fight! Do anything possible to get away or get attention- kick, gouge, twist, squirm, flail, bite. Don’t give in- this could be a life or death situation.

If a stranger grabs their shirt or coat, they should try to pull out of the garment so they can run away.

If a stranger tries to pull them off of their bike, they should grab or hug the handlebars, so they can’t be pulled away from the bike.

If a stranger tries to force them into a car or van, they should brace their legs against the doorframe, or grab the door or window, so they can’t easily be put into the vehicle.

If a child is forced into a vehicle, they should not give up. They should grab the steering wheel, grab the gear shift, try to honk the horn, pound on the windows. Make a scene. Make noise. Try to get attention. Don’t make it easy for the stranger. (Even if children are forced into the trunk, they should kick against the inside of the trunk to draw attention from passers-by. They should also pull on any wires they can reach, in an attempt to make the vehicle’s lights malfunction and draw attention to the vehicle.)

Even if threatened with a weapon, children should run, fight, and scream. Offenders who show a weapon or threaten the use of a weapon are counting on the child being afraid and quietly complying with their demands. They often will not risk the actual use of the weapon, which would call attention to them and their activity. Submitting to the offender will not assure the child’s later safety. It is crucial to get away or get attention as quickly as possible.

Remember as much information as possible about the stranger(s) and vehicle. Even if the stranger leaves and the child is unhurt, the child should immediately report the incident to a trusted adult, so that the information can be given to the police.