Excellent Advice for Parents

Donald Sensing offers excellent advice for parents of all kids, not just little girls:

Here is what my wife and I have taught our daughter, after consulting with law-enforcement officers I know:

• Under no circumstances of any kind will we send a stranger to give you a message or take you with him. Any stranger who claims he has a message from us is lying. You are immediately to run away; do not answer him or hesitate. Just run.
  
• It is not merely okay to be rude to persons who make you fearful or suspicious of their intentions, it is required. Your safety is paramount.
  
• To get help in a crowded place like a store or mall, go to a woman first. A woman is more likely to help a scared girl than a man is. But if a man is all there is, go to him. A police officer is best, of course, but do not sacrifice help at hand looking for better help elsewhere.
  
• In any event, crowds offer safety. Do everything you can to get attention on you. Yell, knock things over, call for police.
  
• If a man or woman physically attempts to take you away, fight back instantly and loudly. Become a screaming, clawing banshee. Fight dirty! Immediately hit and kick everywhere you can, especially go for eyes and groin. If s/he is wearing glasses, rip them away. Yell for help at the top of your lungs all the while. Yell specifically, "This is not my dad (or mom)! I'm being kidnaped!"
  
• Remember that your entire objective in fighting back is to be released. If the abductor drops you - hopefully from pain you have inflicted - immediately flee and get help.

You cannot child-proof the world, so you must world-proof the child.

Posted by Jeff at February 6, 2004 05:09 PM | Link Cosmos