Reports of recent abductions have parents everywhere extremely concerned about how to protect their young children. Debra Holtzman, an internationally acclaimed safety and health expert and author of the new book, "The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living" (Sentient Publications, July, 2009), says, "There are some simple things that you can do beforehand to protect your children"
Here are Debra Holtzman's recommendations:
1. Have a family password. Teach your child that they can't go anywhere with anyone (even a relative) without your parent's permission, unless the person coming for you knows the family password. Practice situations so that the child understands the kinds of circumstances in which a person who doesn't know the password might be persuasive. Even if someone tells the child she must come along because her parent is in the hospital, she should ask for the family password.
2. Don't advertise your child's name to strangers. Don't put your child's name on the outside of clothing or possessions.
3. Help your child memorize important information: their first and last name, complete address and telephone number. Start with simpler imformation such as street name and color of your house. Teach children what 911 is and why people call. Children as young as 3 have been taught to successfully make 911 calls.
4. Teach your child the tricks abductors may use. Some lines an abductor might use: I'm lost. Can you tell me how to get to . . . ? I've lost my puppy. Will you help me find him? Teach your children that adults should not be asking for help from a child.
5. Teach your child when to scream, kick, yell and run. If someone tries to take you somewhere without your parent's permission, that's when he should scream, kick, yell loudly "this not my father/mother" and quickly get away from this person.
6. In public places, never let a small child out of your sight. Teach children not to run, walk or even hide from parents. Provide children with instructions of what to if they get separated from you. Also, teach them that they can ask a mom with a child for help as well.
7. Teach your child to always ask permission before going anywhere with anyone. (Friends and relatives included.) Ask even if it's to run next door for just a second to see the new puppy.
8. ALWAYS supervise children, especially while they play outdoors. Invest in a comfortable lounge chair to use for these occasions.
9. Invest in a monitored home security system. (At the very least, install audible alarms or tones on the doors and windows, which lets you know when someone enters or leaves your home.) Also, Holtzman recommends that you take these additional steps to protect your family from a home invasion: Have solid-core doors for all entry points and equip them with good quality deadbolt locks. Use motion sensor lights near or around entry points. Install a peephole in your front door and use it before opening the door. Teach children never to open the door or to let anyone (even a friend) into your home without first asking permission. Do background screening and reference checks on everyone who works at your home, particularly babysitters or nannies.
10. As an additional layer of protection, parents should consider purchasing a child monitoring device (such as a watch), which can be a very valuable tool in quickly locating a missing child.
Lastly, keep important information on hand: a current color photo (update frequently); up-to date dental and medical records, a video of the child, a complete description of the child, fingerprints, and a DNA kit.
Debra Holtzman has a master's degree in occupational health and safety and is an attorney. She has appeared on major TV news and radio shows around the world and was chosen a Reader's Digest Everyday Hero. "The Safe Baby: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living" provides lots of money savings tips and easy-to-implement solutions to provide a safe, healthy, and green living lifestyle for children and pets.
Interviews may be arranged via http://thesafetyexpert.com