How to Prevent Your Child From Being Abducted

Nineteen years ago 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was abducted from his quiet St. Joseph Minnesota neighborhood, by a masked gunman. Jacob has not been found.

Here's what we learned from the Jacob Wetterling case. Mrs. Wetterling, Jacob's mother, is the first to admit that Jacob was never taught what to do when confronted by a gunman. Had he broke and run right away, it is very likely he would still be with us today. Teach your children that if they are ever confronted by someone with a gun to "run and yell," two things that children do well.

We learned a valuable lesson from the Jeanna North case in Fargo, North Dakota. 11-year-old Jeanna was last seen by her friend, in front of her own house. The person convicted of her murder, Kyle Bell, knew Jeanna, and lived across the street.

What we learned from this case is that it isn't only a "stranger" who can pose a risk to your children. Teach your children never to go anywhere with anyone without asking permission first. This would include neighbors and friends.

Bad guys don't all look bad. If you ask a child to describe a "stranger", they'll describe a person who looks mean, scary or has bad teeth. You can't tell if a person is good or bad by the way they look, so children have to be careful around all people. Instead of trying to teach children what a stranger is, talk to them about "situations." Role play and ask "what would you do if..."
Adults shouldn't ask children for help. Adults should ask other adults for help. Children should be wary of adults asking them for help with things like finding a lost puppy, mailing a package, or finding an address.
Fake authority. Adults may pose as police officers, firemen or other authority figures. Not everyone who has a badge is for real. Teach your children that if they are not sure if the person is who they say they are, to ask another adult. A real police officer won't mind.
Fake emergency. "Quick, get in the car! You're dad's been in a bad accident and your mom sent me to pick you up!" Teach your children that you would never send someone they don't know to pick them up.
Gifts and favors. We've all heard "don't take candy from strangers." But what about pony rides, motorcycle rides or Nintendo games? Teach your children never to take anything from anyone without asking permission first.
Don't keep secrets. Teach children never to keep secrets. They should be made to feel that they can tell you anything, no matter how uncomfortable it makes them feel.
Use the buddy system. Young children should always be with an adult. Don't leave them alone in the car, even for a minute. Older children should go places with a friend. Never let a child go to a public restroom alone.
Know how to get help. Teach your children how to use 9-1-1, and that you don't need a coin to dial 9-1-1 from a pay phone. If they are lost in a store, train them to stay in the store and ask a clerk for help.
If all else fails. If a child is grabbed, she should yell "help, this isn't my dad" and make a scene. Kick, scream, bite, whatever the child has to do to get away.
Parents can't be with children and protect them everywhere. That's why education is so important. Teach them to be careful, not afraid.

Sgt. Mark Buschena is a veteran police officer with 29 years experience. He is the author of "The Naked Truth About Personal Protection!" How to protect your life, family and property. Simple ways to protect yourself from thieves, muggers, rapists, robbers, burglars, con-artists, pick-pockets and other scum-of-the-earth! Get your copy at http://www.defendyourselfnow.com

Prevention Works! No Child Should Ever Be At Risk - Help Prevent Child Abductions and Stop Predators

Statistics indicate that child abductions and sexual predators have increased dramatically in numbers in the last several decades with the growth of technology and explosion of the internet.

Child abductions and sexual exploitation of minors and children have reached epidemic proportions. Modern-day child abductors and molesters are brutal, cold-blooded and murderous. More than any other type of criminals, sexual offenders and predators are more likely to re-offend.

One way, we can prevent this problem from occurring is by simply talking to our kids; in so doing we can prevent them from falling prey.

Prevention Works - Parents educate your children on safety and prevention tips.

1. Teach your children your home address and phone number.

2. How to dial Emergency number 9-1-1; including making a long distance phone call to you using the area code and by dialing "0".

3. Tell them that adults do not usually ask kids for directions. If someone should stop in a car asking for directions, the child should not go near the car.

4. Warn children not to fall for common lures such as: needing help finding a lost puppy. Some molesters tell children they are cute and want to take their picture, or that they have a toy or candy for them. When children hear these approaches from a stranger, they should run fast to a safe place.

5. If someone is following them, they need to run to a safe public location, such as a restaurant, school, grocery store, shopping center, etc. Tell an adult they're in danger and to call police and parents.

6. Tell children to walk on sidewalks, as far away from the curb as possible against the flow of traffic so they can see who's approaching. That will make it more difficult for them to be surprised by a driver and quickly snatched.

7. To walk with and play with others. The child is most vulnerable when alone. If your child walks to school, have him/her walk with other children.

8. Never to go near a car with someone in it; never to get into car without your permission. They should know in whose car they are allowed to ride. Warn your children that someone might try to lure them into a car by saying you said to pick them up. Tell them never to obey such instructions.

9. Tell your children that, "Strangers mean danger." That a stranger is someone they and you don't know very well.

10. To tell you if an adult asks them to keep a secret.

Abductions can happen anywhere, from a rural road to a crowded street. Protecting children from sexual predators or abductors is of utmost importance. Prevention starts with knowledge. Teach your children good safety techniques and consider giving them personal protection products. There are many products on the market that check on your child's well being; ranging from live tracking, voice monitoring, personal alarms, computer filtering software, GPS jewelry, accessories and other safety products.

The prevention of abductions or molestations is an extremely serious subject matter. Studies show victims suffer from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress, eating and sleeping disorders.

No Child Should Ever Be At Risk. Prevention works!

There are many more child abduction prevention and safety tips available at http://www.squidoo.com/InnocenceLostForAllTime

How to Prevent Child Abductions

It may seem shocking, but more than two thirds of all children will get lost at least once during their childhood years. According to one estimate, more than two thousands kids become lost just in the United States. Although most of these children are found in just a few minutes, it is always a possibility that they will never return. After all, we've all seen such cases of child abductions in the news. As a parent, this is one of the most frightening things that you can imagine happening to your kids. How to you keep them safe from a child abduction?

Every parent surely understands the fear that their child will get lost every time they step foot in a public place, whether it's a shopping mall or a grassy park. Even your well-behaved child has the natural curiosity to wander off the second you take your eyes off her. Turning your back to take a phone call, place your lunch order, or wave to a friend is enough time for a child to be lured away. Though you might be panicking at even the thought of this, your little one probably does not even realize the effect wandering off could have on you.

Although most cases of a child's disappearance in a public setting are tired to innocent distractions and wandering kids, news stories constantly remind us that this is not always true. If you are distracted, your lost child could become frightened, injured, or even abducted.

How can you prevent this? From the time your toddlers are old enough to walk, always remind them not to wander. They must also know what to do if they do accidentally lose you in the crowd. Though you've probably told them "don't talk to strangers" a thousand times, in this case talking to the right strangers, such as mall security, can actually reunite them with you faster. Teach your kids how to recognize police officers and store employees in case they need help finding you. They should also know your home address and phone number, in case they become separated for a longer period. These details should be attached in the label of their clothing if they are still too young to memorize them.

Regardless of where you are taking your children or who they are with, never assume that they are safe. In fact, most children who are abducted are taken by family members or acquaintances. Stranger abductions are actually quite rare, though they can happen anywhere, from a rural sidewalk to a crowded street. Kids outdoors without adult supervision are at an especially high risk of being taken.

Protecting your kids from child abduction requires not only the right information, but also the right tools. Consider a child alarm that sounds if your child wanders too far away from you. A personal alarm is another helpful device for keeping your child safe. One press of the alarm button and the loud alarm will sound, summoning the help of nearby adults. Personal alarms even come in child-friendly shapes like panda bears.

Resist Attack has a full range of TASER devices to keep you and your family safe. Also check for current specials on a wireless hidden camera