NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday
Oct. 16, 2007 |
Contact: Barbara Petito
NCMEC Communications Department
(703) 837-6111
media@ncmec.org |
NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN
STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY THIS HALLOWEEN; TRUSTED ADULTS URGED TO
ACCOMPANY "TRICK-OR-TREATERS"
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) today released important
safety tips to remind parents and guardians about child safety and to help
protect millions of “trick-or-treaters” going door to door in
their neighborhoods this Halloween.
Nearly 94 percent of all children between the ages of four and 12 participate
in Halloween activities each year, making it one of the most important nights
for children and trusted adults to be alert and use common sense when “trick-or-treating.”
“Child safety is important year round, but Halloween allows us a chance
to encourage trusted adults and children to pay attention to their surroundings
and not let their guard down,” said NCMEC Safety Director Nancy McBride. “It
gives us the opportunity to reinforce some basic safety precautions to help ensure
that Halloween is both fun and safe.”
Participants are encouraged to practice the following safety measures:
- PREPARE a route that is familiar, well traveled and
not isolated or predominately wooded if traveling door to door by foot.
- ALWAYS make sure that older children travel in groups
and younger children are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or trusted
adult when “trick-or-treating.”
- NEVER allow younger children to approach a home alone
or accept invitations to enter a home to receive candy or treats.
- AVOID unfamiliar neighborhoods and homes that are poorly
lit inside or outside.
- CAUTION children to NEVER approach
a vehicle, occupied or not, if they don’t know the owner or if
there are no trusted adults nearby.
- TEACH children if they’re ever grabbed to make
a scene. They should loudly yell “this person is not my father/mother/guardian;” and
make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming and resisting.
- MAKE SURE children wear reflective clothing or carry
a glow stick or flashlight to be easily seen in the dark.
- REMIND children to remain alert and report suspicious
incidents to parents, guardians and/or law enforcement.
- CONSIDER organizing a home or community party as an
alternative to “trick-or- treating.”
NCMEC also recommends that children know their home telephone number, address
and parents’ or guardians’ full names in the event they become
separated from their accompanying adult.
Adults accompanying children Halloween night should keep the following
in mind:
- Carry a flashlight, extra batteries and fully charged cell phone. Make
sure parents and guardians of escorted children have the cell phone number
for emergencies.
- Agree upon a return time with the families of children being escorted.
- Identify a meeting place should you become separated.
- Instruct children to stay together going from house-to-house, always
walk on sidewalks and never dart out in a street or roadway.
For more information about Halloween and general child
safety please visit www.missingkids.com or
contact 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®
NCMEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. NCMEC's congressionally mandated CyberTipline, a reporting mechanism for child sexual exploitation, has handled more than 519,300 leads. Since its establishment in 1984, NCMEC has assisted law enforcement with more than 135,800 missing child cases, resulting in the recovery of more than 118,700 children. For more information about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit www.missingkids.com. |
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