Stranger Danger and Missing Child Tips
We had a program today at my library and here's some of the tips the speaker gave to the parents.
Make a Child Identification sheet with the following information: Date of Birth, Color of Hair, Color of Eyes, Age, Height, Weight, Birthmarks, scars, distinguishing features.
Attach a current photo to the sheet. From Birth to the age of five the photo should be updated every SIX months. Keep a copy at home and IN THE CAR (in case the child gets lost at the mall, park ...)
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If the child is missing and you are at home look inside the house and then outside EXCEPT if you have a pool. If you have a pool look outside first and then inside the house.
Wait no more than 10-15 minutes before calling 911 if your child is missing. The police would rather have call them back and say you found the child than have you wait.
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No names on the outside of children's clothing, backpacks, suitcases, hats... Knowing your child's name if half the battle for kidnappers. If you child attends a program that they give them a nametag make sure to remove it before you leave the program.
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Teach your child to scream 'You're not my mommy' / 'You're not my daddy' if approached by a stranger. People tend to ignore crying children in stores but if they hear a child scream 'You'r not my...' they MAY be more likely to react.
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'Lost Puppy Trap'
Teach your child that Big People need help from Big People. (That an adult is not going to ask a small child for help finding their lost dog ect...) Many children have been lured away from parents by people claiming they need their help finding lost pets.
If approached like this, the child should be taught to get mom and dad to help the 'big person'.
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Fingerprinting / DNA kits
Save yourself some money and do this yourself.
Buy a ink pad and push your child entire hand into the ink. Place the hand onto a piece of white paper three times. By the third print you should have a perfect set of fingerprints. Repeat on each hand.
Buy a brand new toothbrush and brush your child's teeth. Place the toothbrush in a plastic baggie and put at the back of your fridge. You now have your child's DNA.
You can also buy a new hairbrush and brush your child's hair. Check to see if you have a few WHOLE strands of hair (including the follicle). Again, place the brush in a plastic baggie and put in your fridge.
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I hope this is useful to all the LIW parents!
Make a Child Identification sheet with the following information: Date of Birth, Color of Hair, Color of Eyes, Age, Height, Weight, Birthmarks, scars, distinguishing features.
Attach a current photo to the sheet. From Birth to the age of five the photo should be updated every SIX months. Keep a copy at home and IN THE CAR (in case the child gets lost at the mall, park ...)
-----------------------------------------------------
If the child is missing and you are at home look inside the house and then outside EXCEPT if you have a pool. If you have a pool look outside first and then inside the house.
Wait no more than 10-15 minutes before calling 911 if your child is missing. The police would rather have call them back and say you found the child than have you wait.
------------------------------------------------------
No names on the outside of children's clothing, backpacks, suitcases, hats... Knowing your child's name if half the battle for kidnappers. If you child attends a program that they give them a nametag make sure to remove it before you leave the program.
------------------------------------------------------
Teach your child to scream 'You're not my mommy' / 'You're not my daddy' if approached by a stranger. People tend to ignore crying children in stores but if they hear a child scream 'You'r not my...' they MAY be more likely to react.
------------------------------------------------------
'Lost Puppy Trap'
Teach your child that Big People need help from Big People. (That an adult is not going to ask a small child for help finding their lost dog ect...) Many children have been lured away from parents by people claiming they need their help finding lost pets.
If approached like this, the child should be taught to get mom and dad to help the 'big person'.
-----------------------------------------------------
Fingerprinting / DNA kits
Save yourself some money and do this yourself.
Buy a ink pad and push your child entire hand into the ink. Place the hand onto a piece of white paper three times. By the third print you should have a perfect set of fingerprints. Repeat on each hand.
Buy a brand new toothbrush and brush your child's teeth. Place the toothbrush in a plastic baggie and put at the back of your fridge. You now have your child's DNA.
You can also buy a new hairbrush and brush your child's hair. Check to see if you have a few WHOLE strands of hair (including the follicle). Again, place the brush in a plastic baggie and put in your fridge.
------------------------------------------------------
I hope this is useful to all the LIW parents!
