TIPS FOR SAFETY OUTSIDE THE HOME

1. Do not play alone in deserted areas.
2. Never use public rest rooms unless accompanied by a trusted adult.
3. Never go out to a parking lot alone.
4. Never go near a car with a stranger in it.
5. Never get into a car without your parents permission.
6. Get your parents when an adult asks for help or directions.
7. Yell "This is not my parent" when someone you do not know grabs you.

TIPS FOR SAFETY IN THE HOME

1. Never answer the door while alone.
2. Never talk on the phone to an unfamiliar caller.
3. Never admit to an unfamiliar caller that you are home alone.

REMEMBER: Tell your parents about requests or actions that make you uncomfortable.

You have the right to say "NO".

According to Time magazine, one in forty-two children will become a missing child. This is a staggering statistic that we all need to be aware of and learn how to prevent. The following safety tips are provided by

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.:

Never leave your shopping cart unattended while your child is seated in it.

Never leave your child sitting in the car while you go into a store, no matter how brief your visit may be.

Do not let your child roam around alone in a store or mall.

Do not leave your child at a children's entertainment center unless the store has assigned trained personnel to monitor them.

Prearrange a meeting spot with your child in case you get separated in a public place.

If your child disappears in a public place, immediately seek and notify a security guard, store manager, or clerk.

Teach your child always to check first with parents/guardians before going anywhere. He/she should always: explain where he/she is going; how he/she will get there; whom he/she will be going with; and when he/she will return.

Instruct your child to ask first for permission from you before getting into a car or leaving with anyone - even someone your child knows.

Teach your child that if he/she is accosted by a stranger, he/she should shout, "This person is not my mother/father." A child who only struggles and yells may simply appear to be having a tantrum.

Caution your child to stay alert, walk confidently, and pay attention to his/her surroundings.

Be involved in your child's activities. Volunteer at schools, clubs, and attend sporting events.

Know the routes your child takes to and from school, friends' homes, and other activities.

Listen to your child; let them know you take his/her concerns seriously.

Assemble an identification packet for your child. Include: the child's height, weight, hair and eye color, dental records and professional fingerprints, hand prints and palm prints, and recent pictures of your child in several different positions. Take pictures once a year for older children and four times a year for preschoolers.

Make a mental note of what your child is wearing every day.

Call the police immediately when you notice your child to be missing.

His/her full name, address, and phone number.

Both parents' first and last names.

Whom to ask for help: anyone in uniform or on the job (i.e.: a teacher, a store clerk, or waitress). As a rule, teach your child the stranger he/she approaches is safer than the one who approaches him/her!