1.) The chances that you or your child will be injured OR killed in a car wreck this year are approximatley 1 in 10,000.

2.) Average annual cost for full coverage Automobile insurance – around $600.

3.) On average there are around 400,000 house fires every year.

4.) The average homeowner spends $1000 to $2000 a year on homeowners insurance.

5.) On average 15,000 children per year in the US are diagnosed with a life threatening illness.

And perhaps the most disturbing statistics, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized by adulthood.

WHAT DO ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE IN COMMON?

None of them are nearly as threatening or costly to your children as these odds:

1 in 100

This represents that odds that your child will become missing this year.  In fact having your child become missing has become the #1 cause of losing a child… for good.

FACT:  Almost 2 MILLION children are reported missing each year in the United States – thats nearly one child every 42 seconds according the Federal Bureau of Investigations.  

FACT:  Nothing is more important than the safety of your children.

FACT:  There is only ONE PROVEN Missing Child Prevention and Recovery Program in the country and it is not Amber Alert.  Its not ID Cards or finger print cards…..these are tools for identifying a body, not recovering a child safely.   

FACT:  If you can give up less than ONE CUP of coffee a day… you can protect your child from becoming the next victim of sexual abuse or abduction. Don’t wait, The clock is ticking…..

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

DO NOT WAIT!

Click here

It could save your child’s life.

 ___________________________________________________________________________________

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]]> http://safechildok.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/missing-children/feed/ 0 safechildok http://safechildok.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/child-shield-usa/ http://safechildok.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/child-shield-usa/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:01:06 +0000 safechildok ]]>

Hello and welcome to the Safe Child Ok blog!  First a little background.  This blog is a place where I hope to provide some much needed information and resources on the subject of missing children in the US, and specifically in Oklahoma where I happen to be located.

 

My name is Chad Mathews and as a parent, I can think of nothing more important than the safety of my child so it is my goal to share as much information about the threats our children face and to help parents first understand the facts about missing children and then arm themselves against child predators.  So here we go!.

 

]]> http://safechildok.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/child-shield-usa/feed/ 4 safechildok cjm11 http://safechildok.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/intenet-safety/ http://safechildok.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/intenet-safety/#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:58:09 +0000 safechildok http://safechildok.wordpress.com/?p=51 ]]> In case you haven’t noticed the Internet is here to stay, and your children are becoming more and more a part of the the fabric of the digital world.  The benefits of the Internet are many.  Increased exposure to other cultures, readily available information, education, art, music, this list goes on and on.  As we parents know its also a place where children (an adults..) can get more than they bargained for without the proper guidance.  You wouldn’t let you 9 year old roam around alone in New York City, so why would you let them surf the Internet without helping them understand the possible dangers. Here are some basic tips for keeping your child safe on-line:

1.) The best place for the computer – In the family room where parents can monitor activity.  Better yet, parents get involved with your child and surf the net together!

2.) Create a list of rules for the Internet with your child.  Post the rules near the computer to remind young surfers of the proper way to use the net.  Be sure to praise them for good conduct.

3.) Teach your children to report to you when ANYONE they do not know asks them for personal information or to meet them in person.  Help your child understand that not everything they see or read online is as it seems.  Child predators spend a great deal of time and energy gaining the trust of their targets so it is important that parents help children understand the risk of giving out personal information over the Internet.  Even if it is to someone they know.   Again reward your child for following this rule.

4.) NEVER allow you child to post a picture on the Internet.  Just not worth the risk!

5.) Consider using content filtering software such as NET NANNY 5.5 (WIN 2000,XP,VISTA) This is a great way to help limit your child’s access (either on purpose or by accident ) to inappropriate content.

For more information on the ONLY PROVEN Missing Child Prevention Program in the country click here

From the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:

• Approximately one in seven youth on-line (10 to 17-years-old) received a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet.

• Four percent (4%) received an aggressive sexual solicitation – a solicitor who asked to meet them somewhere; called them on the telephone; or sent them offline mail, money, or gifts.

• Thirty-four percent (34%) had an unwanted exposure to sexual material – pictures of naked people or people having sex.

• Twenty-seven percent (27%) of the youth who encountered unwanted sexual material told a parent or guardian. If the encounter was defined as distressing – episodes that made them feel very or extremely upset or afraid – forty-two percent (42%) told a parent or guardian.

And perhaps the most disturbing statistics, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized by adulthood.

Child safety has been an increasing problem in the U.S. over the last 3 decades. Efforts by local and federal officials have had limited effect on this growing threat to our nations children. Child ID’s, Fingerprinting, DNA, GPS Tracking and even the Amber Alert system do nothing to prevent you child from becoming a victim of abduction or sexual assault. As a result, it is imperative that parents and concerned citizens arm themselves with the most powerful weapon against child abduction and abuse. That weapon is information. Here are some quick tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:

What should a parent know when talking to a child about safety?

1. Don’t forget your older children. Children aged 11 to17 are equally at risk to victimization. At the same time you are giving your older children more freedom, make sure they understand important safety rules as well.
2. Speak to your children in manner that is calm and non-threatening. Children do not need to be frightened to get the point across. In fact, fear can thwart the safety message, because fear can be paralyzing to a child.
3. Speak openly. Children will be less likely to come to you about issues enshrouded in secrecy. If they feel that you are comfortable discussing the subject at hand, they may be more forthcoming.
4. Do not teach “stranger danger.” Children do not have the same understanding of “strangers” as adults; the concept is difficult for them to grasp. And, based on what we know about those who harm children, people known to children and/or their families actually present greater danger to children than do “strangers.”
5. Practice what you preach. You may think your children understand your message, but until they can incorporate it into their daily lives, it may not be clearly understood. Find opportunities to practice “what if” scenarios.
6. Teach your children that safety is more important than manners. In other words, it is more important for children to get themselves out of a threatening situation than it is to be polite. They also need to know that it is okay to tell you what happened, and they won’t be tattletales.

Most importantly parents and guardians need to be aware of these threats and be proactive in their approach to dealing with child safety. With the ever changing landscape of the digital age, predators are finding new and inventive ways to use the internet to gain access to children and to stay one step ahead of law enforcement. As a result, simply assuming that “it won’t happen to my child” is not enough. Communicating with your children on a regular basis about safety and staying informed are the keys to keeping your family safe.

Chad Mathews is an Independent Child Safety Agent for Child Shield U.S.A. for more free information on child safety please visit www.childshieldusa.com/ok, call 1-405-642-7820 or email me at Safechildok@yahoo.com

2. RE-TRACE YOUR CHILD’S STEPS. Determine where your child has last been. For example, if they are late from school call the school offices to see if the bus is running late or call other parents to see if their children have made it home.

3. EXPLORE OTHER POSSIBILITIES. Are you forgetting about any after school functions they may be attending? What distractions could they have encountered on the way home? Friends house, relatives, fast food restaurants, gaming centers?

4. DONT FORGET YOUR OWN BACK YARD. Be sure to look in out of the way places in your own back yard. Your child could be napping in an area out of your immediate view. Check neighbors back yards.

5. CALL THE POLICE. Once you have exhausted these areas call the police NOW! Do not wait and insist that a unit come to your home. While you wait for them to arrive try to remember any information you can about your child that day. What were they wearing, where were they last, where should they have been going.

Its google’s new mapping service that has street level imagery of your neighborhood. At first I thought this was a pretty cool way to map an area. But what risk does this pose the safety of our children. Now predators, thieves etc. can see your front door from the privacy of their own home. Granted the view is not “live” but it is still a photograph of your home and its surroundings. Do you live next to a school or a playground? Want to know how far it is from your front door to the highway? You can measure it down to the feet. If you ask me it makes things much easier for everyone, including the bad guys. These are the kinds of things that parents need to be aware of today.

What do you think?

Want to learn more about protecting your child from becoming missing? Click Here. It could save your child’s life!