Are your children safe on the bus stop?

Parents, I would like to talk about School Bus Stop safety. “It takes five seconds for an abductor to take a child into a car and be out of the area.'' --Ken Wooden, Child Lures Prevention

It is horrible to think the school bus stop is a Child Predator Hunting Grounds. I want to take a moment to share some safety tips.

1. If all possible do not let your children walk to the bus stop alone, arrange to walk with another child or group of kids.

2. Teach your children to be aware of their surroundings, don’t be so busy horse playing, or listening to their headsets, or on their phones that they don’t notice they are being followed or watched.

3. Know the path your child takes to and from home to the school bus stop.

4. Tell your children to avoid shortcuts through woods, alleys, parks, or other areas where they could be alone.

5. Identify safe houses and businesses along the way that your child could run to or into for help if needed.

6. Stand away from any vehicle that stops near the bus stop and does not allow yourself to come close to or enter the car of someone you don’t want to.

7. Don’t have your child’s name on his or her backpack, etc., as this would enable a potential abductor to call out to the child by name.

8. If your children feel concerned for their safety, tell them you need to know, TELL you (parent or Guardian), the bus driver and school officials.

9. If approached on the way to or from the bus stop or at the bus stop, TELL your parents, the bus driver and school officials.

10. Report any suspicious vehicle. Write down or snap a quick picture discretely of the license number and provide it to school and law enforcement officials.

11. Run from anyone displaying a weapon. Do this while throwing books, yelling and making as much noise as you can. Under no circumstances go with an abductor. Kick, bite, and no matter what the threat, do not go along with your kidnapper. Once he takes you away, your chances of survival significantly diminish.

Parents another suggestion to help ensure your child’s school bus stop safety; It is impossible for some parents to stand at the bus stop with their children, it is not always possible with one-parent families or where both parents work, maybe you can work out arrangements with the other parents to keep an eye on your child. Parent maybe suggest there be a parent at the bus stop on a rotating basis.