Safety Tips
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ProTechKids wants to protect your child by not only providing parents and guardians the tools necessary to act in the case
of an emergency, but also by educating families on the importance of good safety habits. The best way to combat a
child abduction is to prevent it. While this may not always be possible and abductions still occur, the following
guidelines will help keep your family safe.
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Establishing a system of “Family Rules”
regarding one's personal safety can be an excellent way to help children distinguish
safe situations from non-safe situations. Just as many families have rules regarding
chores, TV watching, and bedtime, by adopting rules addressing personal safety parents
can teach good safety habits. Through repition and reinforcement of these rules,
children learn safe behaviors in a non-threatening way. The following are a few
suggestions and examples of family safety rules. |
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Children should know their complete home address, telephone number, and parent's full names.
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If your child is old enough to answer the phone, they should know how and when to dial 9-1-1.
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If a child is at home by themselves, it is okay to not answer the phone. If a child is going to
answer the phone, they should know the safe thing to say, “Mom/Dad cannot come to the phone
right now”. Children should be taught to never reveal any personal information over the phone
(i.e. name, age, school) without a parent's permission.
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Have children help make sure that doors that should be locked are locked.
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As a parent, learn the full names of your child's friends and their parents. Know their addresses
and phone numbers. Build a relationship with them, and establish a system of accountability.
Verify the information your child gives you. When your child is playing at a friends house, know
who else is there. Parents? Older kids? Other neighbors? Anyone?
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Teach your children they are never to go anywhere without parental permission, and if plans
change they are to get permission for their new plans.
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Develop a family “code word”. If someone other than a parent or friend is going to pick
them up, they should repeat the code word before the child leaves with this person. Your
family code word should remain a secret.
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A child's best defense is following a set of “Family Rules”, such as these, that help teach
and reinforce good personal safety habits. It is important for your child to understand
that a stranger is someone that they do not know, but a bad guy is someone who asks your
child to violate the “Family Rules”.. |
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Society teaches children that bad guys look mean and ugly and dress like a monster, but this
is not always the case. Some bad guys act nice and look just like everyone else, so it's
important for a child to know how to avoid unsafe situations. The following are tips for
children on how to avoid unsafe situations. |
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Never answer the door if at home alone, or if a parent is not with you.
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NEVER get into anyone's car without permission.
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If an adult approaches to ask for directions or for help, step back, tell them
you do not know and walk away. Adults should ask other adults if they need help.
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Don't go to the restroom without a trusted adult.
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If you feel uncomfortable or are bothered by someone, the best defense is your voice and your legs.
Run away from someone who is bothering you while yelling to attract as much attention as possible.
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If separated from parents in a store or other public place, go to the checkout counter, information
desk, security guard, or even a mother with children. Let them know that you are lost and looking
for your parents.
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A parent's worst nightmare is that their child is missing. There are somethings that
you can do to be prepared in case this were ever to occur. |
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Use ProTechKids software to keep an up-to-date record of your child's personal
information and description even a short video clip. You are also able to store
a complete list of emergency contacts such as local and national law enforcement
agencies and media outlets, as well as, friends and family members.
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Keep an a recent, good-quality photograph of your child. It can be a very important
tool in helping law enforcement agencies, and has aided in the recovery of numerous
missing children.
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Try not to panic if your child is missing. Use your ProTechKids software to help
activate a community wide search. Send a missing person alert to all of your neighbors,
family and friends. Print missing child fliers to be distributed. Provide law
enforcement with the necessary data for them to begin a search. Include only the
information already stored in your ProTechKids software, or add a description of where
your child was last seen and what they were wearing.
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