Keeping your kids safe from predators

Amber Alert--The Child Abduction Regional Emergency (CARE) Alert is California's and the Department of Justice's program called Amber Alert. The Amber Alert was created in Texas after the kidnap and murder of nine year old Amber Hagerman. This innovative program was designed to combine the resources of the media and law enforcement in the recovery of an abducted child. An Alert is initiated when a report is taken and confirmed by law enforcement of a witnessed abduction, or a parental abduction where the child faces the threat of injury or death. Radio and television stations are asked to immediately interrupt programming and broadcast details of the abduction, including a description of the victim, suspect and vehicle.

Fire Safety--Keep matches, lighters and other heat sources out of children’s reach. This can help eliminate child-play fires – the leading cause of fire-related death for children 5 and under. Preparation and education are key elements of preventing fire tragedies. Planning and practicing a fire escape route with your family, and talking to your children about what to expect in a fire, are simple steps anyone can take. A prepared child is more likely to escape unharmed.
Car Seat Requirement—California law requires drivers and all passengers to use a safety restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle. If you are transporting a child who is under 6 years of age or under 60 pounds, the parent (or the driver if the parent is not in the car) is required to secure the child in a child safety seat, a booster seat or other safety restraint system.

Internet Safety—Become familiar with and use the parental controls available through your internet service provider or child safety software. Remind your children that often people in “chat rooms” are not who or what they say they are and teach them the dangers of setting up a face-to-face meeting with someone they meet on the internet. Tell your children to never give out their address or phone number to someone on the internet. Make it a point to know how your children are using the internet.

The newest forum for self expression for kids is MySpace.com. This is a website where kids can chat with their friends, download music, watch the latest music videos and get solicited by sexual predators if parents are not aware of when their child is on the internet and with whom they are “chatting” with.

According to MySpace.com:

As a parent, please consider the following guidelines to help your children make safe decisions about using online communities.
• Talk to your kids about why they use MySpace, how they communicate with others and how they represent themselves on MySpace.
• Kids shouldn't lie about how old they are. MySpace members must be 14 years of age or older. We take extra precautions to protect our younger members and we are not able to do so if they do not identify themselves as such. MySpace will delete users whom we find to be younger than 14, or those misrepresenting their age.
• MySpace is a public space. Members shouldn't post anything they wouldn't want the world to know (e.g., phone number, address, IM screen name, or specific whereabouts). Tell your children they should avoid posting anything that would make it easy for a stranger to find them, such as their local hangouts.
• Remind them not to post anything that could embarrass them later or expose them to danger. Although MySpace is public, teens sometimes think that adults can't see what they post. Tell them that they shouldn't post photos or info they wouldn't want adults to see.
• People aren't always who they say they are. Ask your children to be careful about adding strangers to their friends list. It's fun to connect with new MySpace friends from all over the world, but members should be cautious when communicating with people they don't know. They should talk to you if they want to meet an online friend in person, and if you think it's safe, any meeting should take place in public and with friends or a trusted adult present.
• Harassment, hate speech and inappropriate content should be reported. If your kids encounter inappropriate behavior, let them know that they can let you know, or they should report it to MySpace or the authorities.

Communication is Vital
A vital aspect of keeping your children safe is having open communication with them. Always know where your children are, who they’re with and what’s going on in their lives. Listen — really listen — to your child. A problems that may seem mundane to you are a big part of your child’s world. If you give your undivided attention to their disappointment over losing a race or having a puppy love made public, they will be more likely to turn to you when more serious problems arise.

Families on the Go
As children become more independent, everyone in the family may seem to be going in different directions—especially when both mom and dad work. But no matter how busy, parents should keep track of where everyone is. Post a weekly “who’s where” chart. Establish clear rules about when you expect your child home after school and when their evening curfew is. Be clear on how late is too late. If you expect your child to inform you of their whereabouts, be sure they can reach you. As parents, set the example on being on time and calling if you’re going to be home late.

Street Smarts for Kids
1. Never get into a car with someone unless you’ve checked with your parents and they’ve given their approval.
2. If someone seems to be following you, either on foot or in a car, stay away. Go tell either your parents or a trusted grown-up right away.
3. If someone in a car asks directions, don’t go near the car.
4. Come up with a code word or phrase known only to family members. It can be a silly phrase, such as "ice cream pajama party." Agree that anyone who picks you up from school or play unexpectedly will have been told the code by your parents. If the person doesn’t know the code word or phrase, tell your child to get help from a teacher, police officer, or trusted adult.
5. If someone tries to force you to go with him or her, scream loudly, “This man (woman) is not my parent. Help me!”