http://montrealgazette.com/news/loc...t-up-a-buddy-system-missing-childrens-network
[h=1]In wake of Ariel's disappearance, network shares tips to keep kids safe[/h] Although child abductions in Quebec are rare, there are a handful of attempted abductions each year, the Missing Children's Network says.
She said it’s very rare that predators use force to abduct a child. Instead, they make up stories about needing help to find a lost dog or carrying groceries up the stairs.
“Predators know how to speak with children,” Arcamone said. “They win the child over by asking them to do something. Kids want to help and they love feeling responsible.”
The fear some parents are feeling will likely linger for a few weeks and then people will go back to their day-to-day routine, she predicted.
“Right now, it’s very intense,” she said.
[h=3]Here are some tips to help keep your child safe.[/h]
- Children should always ask permission before leaving the house and should call their parents when they reach a destination.
- Use the buddy system by walking, playing and staying in groups of two or more because there’s safety in numbers.
- Children do not have to answer an adult who speaks to them. They should stay “three giant steps” away from anyone who makes them feel uncomfortable.
- If someone tries to grab a child, the child should scream: “This is not my dad or my mom. I need help.”
“Statistics show that we reduce the risk of unsolicited advances by 70 per cent just by being with someone else,” she said.