If there is anything that freaks me out, it’s hearing on the news about a child that has been abducted. Was reading about the discovery in the UK of the body of a young girl who had been kidnapped, then murdered. i know there are lots of parents on Gupshup and among them quite a few that frequent this forum. A few simple precautionary steps vis-a-vis the safety of your children might go a long way, Khudanakhasta if the situation ever arises.
Lots of missing childrens’ organizations suggest keeping a collection of your child’s fingerprints; just incase, Khudanakhasta God Forbid, a child goes missing. i know it sounds paranoid, but you have nothing to lose. And afterall, what is more precious than your child? You can do all of this at home: on a simple piece of paper, just make categories of ‘Right Index’, ‘Left thumb’, etc., and stamp the respective fingerprint underneath. ALWAYS keep a recent (maximum 6 mos. old) picture of your child.. just staple this to the fingerprint paper.
Walk around your neighborhood with your child; show her/him ‘safe’ places like local schools, libraries, and ‘no-go’ areas like dark alleys. Also ensure that she/he knows how to walk back from these areas to your home, as well as how to make a call from a payphone without any money (i.e., collect call).
One childrens’ organization even suggests making a home-made DNA kit (using just one cotton swab and two zip-lock plastic bags); don’t know about this as police can always use family members’ DNA, but still - better to be on the safe side.
For fingerprints - if you live in Canada or the US, make a round of malls on 25 May (Missing Children’s Day), and there are usually police services and missing childrens’ orgs. that have set up stalls inside malls that distribute free fingerprint kits. They do this every year. The police will fingerprint your kids for free right there and then if your child is with you, and give you other good safety tips.
i know this all sounds paranoid, but - better overly-cautious than sorry.
*...how does that stop them from being kidnapped or abducted in the first place? *
Take measures like - pick a Sunday when the weather is good and walk through safe routes in your community with them in order to ensure that, if they ever get lost, they know how to find their way home. i don't know about the US, but in Canada many residential communities have 'Block Parent' programmes set up; these houses are identifiable by a BP logo in one of the windows. Point out these houses to your kids. With a parent's help, kids should practice using a pay phone to make an emergency call. Pretend that your child is calling 9-11 and practice with her/him what information they should give in the first five to ten seconds (their location, describe the emergency, name).
I was just wondering wut about the third world countries where 'Finger-printing', and 'DNA Testing' are not available that easily?! wut else they can do to protect their children?
The best thing about that DNA kit and fingerprinting thingy is that they’re homemade - anyone can make them at home with basic supplies. For eg., regarding the DNA kit, all you need is one sterile cotton swab and two Ziplock plastic bags (the ones you utilize in freezers to contain chunks of meat, leftovers, etc.). And you need a freezer. That’s sufficient. The fingerprinting one is even simpler - all you need is some ink, paper, and a pen. So anyone can do this at home - the reason i mentioned the aspect of the malls where police members sometimes do free fingerprinting, is just incase any Guppy parent is taking her/his child to a mall; it’s a bit more convenient to have it done professionally while one has come to the mall anyways for other errands. BUT, i have seen police officers do it at the mall and they do essentially the same things that one is able to do at home with the above-mentioned items.
High-profile kidnappings increased substantially in the last few weeks, and so this issue is very much in the spot-light. The key question remains, at what age should we be telling the kids about such things? The common sense answer is, as soon as possible.
Re: DNA testing in developing countries. While collecting DNA samples is a home-kit, analyzing DNA samples is a recent development and is complex and expensive. I am not sure how prevailing are the practices in law enforcement agencies of developing countries in this regards. Without proper analysis equipment, DNA evidence can not be adequately used or tested.
Thanks Nadia
Really informative thread :k:
Well it is not possible to take precautions against everything I agree - You never know what can happen. With the rising crime rate all over it really helps if parents are sensible and do whatever they can to ensure the safety of their children
We in Pakistan know little about this DNA stuff and finger printing. What I have done is that whenever my children (5 yrs and 3 yrs old) go out of the house I make sure that they carry in their pocket a small slip (or even my visiting card) with their address and all the telephone numbers (Home / my office / Grandma etc etc)
If GOD forbid they get lost somehow , and some kind soul does want to help , he can always call home through that slip - because a weeping child can barely talk - leave alone remember his telephone number.
This is NOT an anti-kiddnapping measure just a precaution for those unforseen mishaps that sometimes do happen in the market or any other public place.