Summer Safety:Tips to Help Avoid Abduction and Harm

Why is Summer Safety Important?

• During the summer months children tend to be

– Outdoors more

– Home alone more

– Supervised less

We Believe No Child Should Be At Risk

• A parent or guardian is the best person to teach a

child about personal safety.

• There is no perfect age to begin teaching

children about personal safety.

• A child’s ability to comprehend and practice

safety skills is affected by age, educational, and

devel0pmental levels.

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Personal Safety for Children: A Guide for Parents and Guardians. Copyright © 2002.

Safety Tips to Teach Children

Teach Children

• Their name, address, telephone number

• How to use the telephone

• Whose homes they may visit when you’re

not there

• Where they may and may not go in

the neighborhood

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians. Copyright © 1993.

Home Alone Safety: Teach Children

• Not to open the door unless you have instructed

them it is okay in each and every instance

• Not to tell anyone they are home alone

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians. Copyright © 1993.

In an Emergency: Teach Children

• What to do

• How to reach you

– Cell phone, work phone

• Who else they may call

– Neighbors, family members, other trusted adults

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians. Copyright © 1993.

Potentially Dangerous Situations: Teach Children

• How to recognize and avoid potentially

dangerous situations

• To say NO and make a scene

• To immediately get out of these situations

• To immediately tell you or another trusted

adult if something happens

Vehicle Safety: Teach Children

Never to approach or enter a vehicle, occupied or

not, unless accompanied by you or another

trusted adult

General Tips for Adults

Stranger-Danger Myth

• Do not confuse your children with the concept

of strangers

– Statistically incorrect

– Kids don’t “get it”

– Adults don’t model it

– Inability to access help

Remember most children are victimized by someone they know, love, or trust

Know Where They Are

• Know their daily habits

• Know their friends

• Check in with them

• Have them check in with you

• Make sure they are supervised when outside and

away from home

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…General Tips for Parents and Guardians to Help Keep Their Children Safer. Copyright © 2000.

Listen and Observe

• Where don’t they want to go?

• Who don’t they want to see?

• Is someone showing them too much attention?

• Has their behavior or attitude changed?

Precautionary Measures

• Take color photographs every 6 months

• Keep a description of your child

• Keep copies of your child’s fingerprints

• Consider having a DNA sample taken from your child

• Know where your child’s medical records are located

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Just in Case…Guidelines in case your child might someday be missing. Copyright © 1985 and 2004.

Babysitters and Other Childcare Providers

• Check references with other families, friends,

and neighbors

• Drop in unexpectedly

• Ask your children about the experience

• Check the national sex offender registry

www.nsopw.gov

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…General Tips for Parents and Guardians to Help Keep Their Children Safer. Copyright © 2000.

Camps: Questions to Ask

• Do they complete a background screening

check on the individuals working

with children?

• Is there constant adult supervision of

children including when on field trips

and at off-site activities?

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians. Copyright © 1993.

Childcare Facilities: Questions to Ask

• Is the facility licensed?

• Are all staff members trained?

• Can parents/guardians come and go asthey wish?

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians. Copyright © 1993.

Childcare Facilities: Questions to Ask

• Can you visit and observe the personnel several

times before making a decision?

• Can you visit unannounced after placement?

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians. Copyright © 1993.

Disaster Preparation

• Stay together with your family if possible

• Have a plan in case you are separated

• Give children identification information to keep with them, attach information to them in a waterproof holder

• Take digital photos in advance and e-mail them to family members

• Make photocopies of important documents and mail them to family members

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Safety Tips for Families in Disaster Preparation. Copyright © 2005.

Home Alone

• Have a plan in case you are late

• Keep a list by the telephone that includes

– 911/the emergency number in your area

– Your number

– Another trusted adult

– Poison-control center

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…After-School Safety for Children Who Are Home Alone. Copyright © 2000.

Public Places and Parks

• Make a plan in case you are separated

• Practice appropriate actions and responses with

your children

• Talk to your children about who can help them if

they’re lost, need assistance, or are in trouble

• Keep a photograph of your child with you

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…For Child Safety in Amusement or Theme Parks. Copyright © 2000.

Public Places and Parks

• Have children carry identification and emergency contact information with them.

• Be sure your child dresses in brightly colored clothing.

• Accompany younger children to the restroom and have older ones go together.

• Do not use public places as “babysitters.”Example: Don’t drop kids off at the mall.

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…For Child Safety in Amusement or Theme Parks. Copyright © 2000.

Youth Sporting Programs: Questions to Ask

• Is there a background check for coaches?

• What is the coach’s philosophy about winning and sportsmanship?

• Are there other adults who supervise off-site travel?

• Do the children use a locker room to dress? Are there multiple supervising adults present?

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…For Child Safety in Youth Sports. Copyright © 2000 and 2005.

Youth Sporting Programs: Questions to Ask

• Do you have input into the sports activity?

• Does the coach promise to make your child a champion?

• Does the coach ask to spend time alone with your child?

• Do you talk to your child about how he or she likes the coach or sport?

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Know the Rules…For Child Safety in Youth Sports. Copyright © 2000 and 2005.

The Internet

For a child sex offender’s

purposes, it is one of the most

effective tools ever invented

NetSmartz® Workshop

• Interactive, educational safety resource from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

• Designed for children aged 5 to 17, parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement

• Uses age-appropriate, 3-D activities to teach children how to stay safer while on the Internet and in the real world

• www.NetSmartz.org

Internet Safety

• Keep online computers in a supervised area of the home

• Consider installing filtering and/or monitoring software

• Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use

• Research the sites that your child uses or wants to use for privacy settings they allow

Internet Safety

• Let your children show you what they like to do online

• Remind them to be careful not to reveal personal information about themselves through photos, videos, or text

• Teach your children never to arrange a face-to-face meeting with anyone without your permission, you going along with your children to the meeting, and being sure to meet in a public place

Internet Safety

• Be aware of other computers your child may be using on/at

Cell phones, friends’ houses, libraries

• Learn online acronyms such as

POS = Parent Over Shoulder

• Make sure screen names are not too revealing

Remember: Not everything online is true and people may not be who they seem to be

Online Reporting

If your children are being stalked, harassed, or threatened in any way

– Report the incident to your service provider and your local law-enforcement agency

– If materials received are lewd, obscene, or illegal also report it to NCMEC’s CyberTipline® at www.cybertipline.com or 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678).

If Your Child Is Missing

• IMMEDIATELY call law enforcement

• Limit access to your home until law enforcement arrives

• Call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST®

(1-800-843-5678)

Resources for Children with Special Needs

• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY): www.nichcy.org

• James Stanfield Company: www.stanfield.com

• National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH): www.nrhrehab.org

For Additional Information or to Receive NCMEC Publications

• www.missingkids.com

• 1-800-THE-LOST®

(1-800-843-5678)

Additional Program Materials

Download Safety Tips

Know the Rules…Summer Safety Tips for Childrenhttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=815

Know the Rules…Summer Safety Tips for Parents/Guardianshttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=816

Keeping Kids Safer on the Internethttp://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2954

Summer Safety Education Survey and CertificateWe welcome your feedback about this presentation. Follow the link below to take a quick survey and receive your Certificate. http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=3750

Remember

There is no substitute for your

attention and supervision!