Last year, more than 460,000 children were reported missing. This number includes runaways and children who were kidnapped by relatives, acquaintances, and strangers. With the combined efforts of police and community volunteers, many of these children were recovered. Unfortunately, some were not. When it comes to your child’s safety, you can never be too careful. Education, awareness, and child safety IDs in Orange County, CA, are some of the best tools available. Tips for Kids • Make sure children know their names, their parents’ names, addresses, and phone numbers. For children who are too young to speak or remember, a medical ID bracelet they can wear is a good investment. • Teach children the difference between strangers, acquaintances, family, and authority figures. Children should be able to identify people who can help them like police officers, firemen, store clerks, and teachers. Take a field trip to the local police department, fire station, or shopping mall to help your child identify these people. • Identify strangers clearly and calmly to your child when you are at the park or at the store. Stress the importance of not talking to or taking things from strangers. Enlist the help of a trusted friend your child doesn’t know and practice these techniques. • In the worst case scenario, encourage children to be animated if they are scared or touched by a stranger. Scream, fight, run—do whatever necessary to get attention and get away from danger. A self-defense class is a great idea to teach confidence, and these classes are sometimes available to toddlers and preschoolers. Tips for Parents • Never leave your children unattended, especially in public places like parks, stores, and restaurants. Never let your children use a public restroom alone. • Virtually every cell phone comes equipped with a camera. Take a picture of your child every day, especially on a school day or before a family outing. When a child goes missing, police will always ask for a description of the child’s clothing. A recent picture is an invaluable tool to help police and volunteers in their search. • Take the time to fill out a Child Safety Kit. These kits provide police with valuable information such as fingerprints, hair and eye color, birthmarks, medical needs, and recent photos. There is no waiting period for reporting a missing child. A child safety id in Orange County, CA, can aid police in the quick recovery of your child.
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