Child Safety Information
800,000 CHILDREN ARE MISSING EACH YEAR – One Child Every 40 Seconds

Fact:
450,000 children run away each year
300,000 children are abducted each year by family members
More than 58,000 children are abducted every year by non-family members

Prevention Tips:
Prevention always starts at home. Use the following tips to help educate children on safety and awareness.

RAD KIDS
RADKIDS, which is an acronym for Resist Aggression Defensively, is the national leader in children's safety, with headquarters based in Harwichport, Massachusetts. RADKIDS is brought to children and parents by the training and development of nationally certified instructors drawn from their own communities. The RADKIDS program educates children on escape and defensive tactics that may one day be needed to avoid possible child abduction or violent confrontation. By empowering a community with certified local instructors, RADKIDS Personal Empowerment Safety Education package is not just a program but a true gift to the community.
RADKIDS Curriculum topics include: Home, School and Vehicle Safety, Out and About Safety, Realistic Defense Against Abduction, Good-Bad-Uncomfortable Touch, Stranger Tricks (including Physical Defense against Abduction) Self-realization of personal power  and more.

The Vero Beach Police Department offers RADKIDS classes, taught by certified instructors on a quarterly basis. Age range for participants is 5 to 12 years old. If you have questions about upcoming RADKIDS classes or would like to sign your child up, please call either 978-4655, or 978-4675.
RADSystem - The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive, women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. R.A.D. is not a Martial Arts program. Our courses are taught by nationally certified R.A.D. Instructors and provide each student with a workbook/reference manual. This manual outlines the entire Physical Defense Program for reference and continuous personal growth, and is the key to our free lifetime return and practice policy for R.A.D. graduates.
Classes are generally offered semi-annually and are open to women 14 and older. If you have questions about upcoming classes please call 978-4655.

 

 

Cyber Bullying Information click here

 

Children Should be Taught To:

Know his/her full name, as well as your name, address and telephone number, including area code. Children should know how to use the telephone and proper use of 911.

Never say they are alone when answering the phone – instead, offer to take a message.

Never answer the door if they are alone.

Never invite anyone in the house without permission of a parent or baby sitter.

Never take candy or gifts from strangers or anyone else without asking a parent first.

Never play in deserted buildings or isolated areas.

Quickly move away from cars that pull up beside them if they do not know the driver.

Know that no one should touch any part of his or her body that a bathing suit would cover.

Avoid shortcuts through empty parks, fields or alleys.

Run home or go to the nearest public place if they are being followed and yell for help.

Tell you if someone has asked them to keep a secret from you.

Tell you where they are at all times or leave a message at home.

Give up money, jewelry or clothing rather than fight.

Know they can talk to you and call you to pick them up at any time.


Parents Should:
Avoid articles bearing your child’s name. A child is less likely to fear someone who knows his or her name.

Check all potential baby-sitters and older friends of your child.

Never leave your child alone in a public place, stroller or car, even for a minute.

Always accompany your child to the bathroom in public places.

Always accompany your child on door-to-door activities.

Create an environment where a child feels safe to talk to you. Let him/her know that you are interested and sensitive to their fears.

Teach children that the police are their friends and that they can rely on them if they are in trouble.

Keep an up-to-date color photograph of your child, as well as a medical and dental history, and have your child fingerprinted.

Stay involved in your child’s life by communicating daily to prevent your child from running away.

Source: National Child Identification Program