(NAPSA)—Protecting children from abduction is one of the top concerns for parents and guardians. According to the Department of Justice, approximately 800,000 children are reported missing every year—more than 2,000 a day. Some are taken by family members and acquaintances but others are abducted by someone they don’t know. While most of these children will return homesafely, many are never seen again. To help keep children safer, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Honeywell have developed Got 2B Safe!, a nationwide program that teaches children four rules to help protect themselves from child abduction and exploitation. NCMEC recommends that every parent and guardian practice them with their children and encourage their schools to adopt abduction and exploitation prevention education programs into their curriculum. When children learn these rules with encouragement and support from their parents, guardians and teachers, they can become second nature. This knowledge helps arm them with positive, empowering skills and the confidence needed to recognize and avoid unwanted advances and situations that lead to abduction. Nothing will prevent abductions 100 percent of the time but programs such as Got 2B Safe! can provide an additional layer of defense. Got 2B Safe! is designed to help educate 8- to 10-year-olds and their families on how to prevent child abduction and exploitation. Since it began in 2003, NCMEC and Honeywell have distributed Got 2B Safe! information to 1.6 million elementary school students in 135,000 classrooms throughout the U.S. Honeywell notified the 25,000 Children should check with parents and guardians before accepting gifts, rides or invitations from anyone,even people they know. Check First—Children should always check with parents and guardians before accepting gifts, rides or invitations from anyone,including friends, acquaintances and people they don’t know. Go With a Friend—Never go anywhere alone. Being with anotherperson in public is safer and more fun. It’s My Body—Anyone whoviolates the sanctity of a child’s bodyorthreatens or attemptsto do so is committing a crime. Tell yourchildrenit is okay to say “NO!” Tell a Trusted Adult—teach your children to tell a trusted adult—parent, teacher, etc—if anyone or anything makes them feelscared, uncomfortable or confused. @ elementary schools that received the program in 2003 about the new Got 2B Safe! Web site, www.Honey well.com/got2bsafe and parent take-home. In addition, Got 2B Safe! will be distributed to an additional 25,000 elementary schools nationwide. For more information, visit www.Honeywell.com/got2bsafe or www.missingkids.com.
