The following tips from the FBI will help keep your children safe:
Make sure that your child
knows his/her full name, your full name, your
address, and your telephone number(s), including
area code(s). Make sure your child knows how to use
a telephone and how to call 911.
Do not leave your young
children home alone. If you must leave your teenage
children at home by themselves, tell them not to
answer the door. If they answer the telephone, they
should not mention that they are alone but should
say that you will be back shortly.
Tell your children to move
away from cars that pull up beside them if they do
not know the driver, even if the driver claims to
know you. If your child is being followed, they
should know to run home or go to a safe house or the
nearest public place.
Teach your children not to
play in isolated areas and not to take shortcuts
through empty parks, fields, or alleys.
Let your children know
that they should not accept items from strangers or
others with out your express permission.
Tell your children that
they may contact you at any time to pick them up and
where to go if you are not available. Point out
which houses in your neighborhood they may visit if
they are in trouble.
Never leave your child alone in a public place,
stroller, or car, even for brief periods of time.
Accompany your young children to the bathroom in
public places.
Go with your children during all door-to-door
activities.
Maintain up-to-date
identification information on your children at all
times, including medical and dental records, Social
Security numbers, photographs, etc. Fingerprints and
DNA samples also can be collected and stored in your
home through the National Child Identification
Program Kit
(http://www.childidprogram.com/the-id-kit), which is
provided by the American Football Coaches
Association in partnership with the FBI.