AlertID and the National Crime Prevention Council Help Keep Kids Safe Over Memorial Day Weekend

ARLINGTON, Va. and LAS VEGAS, May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- According to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing each year, more than 2,000 children each day. For every minute a child is missing, they are potentially a mile farther away from safety. National Missing Children's Day is May 25 and with Memorial Day weekend and summer travels around the corner, keeping children safe is at the forefront of every parent's mind. Being informed and prepared is the best form of prevention.

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), home to McGruff the Crime Dog®, and AlertID join forces to provide important safety tips and advice to help families keep safe over the holiday.

"Keeping kids safe while traveling can prove challenging for parents.  Being prepared and practicing simple safety rules will help protect your children every day, including while on travel," said Ann M. Harkins, NCPC President and CEO.

Have fun over the Memorial Day weekend, but keep these important travel and safety tips in mind to help protect you and your children:

• Parents should discuss what to do if they become separated and have a designated location to meet.
• Set up rules for each day's outings on where and how you'll link up if you become separated
• Urge to play in groups and always stay with a trusted adult or older child to supervise
• Parents should study in advance to become familiar with any places they and their family will visit over Memorial Day:
  • Parents may register for FREE at AlertID.com, enter an address and see an easy-to-read map showing sex offenders residing or working in the vicinity, in many places be able to view local crime information and receive other   alerts such as those for hazardous weather.
  • Snap a photo of the child prior to any event, and enter up-to-date  descriptions into AlertID's My Family Wallet™ (located on AlertID's free mobile app). If the child goes missing, members may access the information on their smartphones and send it quickly to law enforcement when every moment counts.
• Point out unsafe places to play and discourage kids from taking shortcuts or playing near dangerous intersections
• In the event they are grabbed by a stranger, instruct children to yell "This person is trying to take me!" or "This is not my mother/father!" and to resist by pulling, walking or running away.
• Help protect your family every day with these additional prevention tips:
  • Set automatic timers on a few interior lights to give the impression that someone is home.
  • Pay attention to your surroundings, and instruct your children to do so as well.
  • Pick gas stations that are well-lighted and always remove your keys and lock the car doors while you are pumping gas.
  • Keep valuables (GPS, MP3 players, cell phones) out of plain view in your vehicle and lock the doors even if you are stepping away from the vehicle for just a moment.
  • Make sure your kids know their full name, each parent's full name, address (including city and state), and phone number (including area code).
  • Take only the credit and other cards that you will need while traveling.
  • Make sure your home is secure – all doors, windows, and garage doors locked; lights on timers, deliveries cancelled, and mail stopped or collected by a trusted neighbor or friend.
  • Stay in contact with your friends and neighbors by using AlertID's Secure Social Network. See something suspicious? Members may send an alert to their neighbors, members of an AlertID group or even report it directly to the Department of Homeland Security.

For more information and tips on travel safety, visit the National Crime Prevention Council's website.

"National Missing Children's Day is an excellent opportunity to assess the choices we make to live safely. We encourage every family to enroll in AlertID to get the information they need to protect children. With families traveling over Memorial Day, and throughout the summer, being informed and prepared can truly help to save lives", according to AlertID's Founder, Keli Wilson.

To sign up for a free account, or for more information, go to www.AlertID.com. 

About the National Crime Prevention Council

The National Crime Prevention Council is the nonprofit leader in crime prevention. For more than 30 years, our symbol of safety, McGruff the Crime Dog®, has delivered easy-to-use crime prevention tips that protect what matters most—you, your family, and your community. Law enforcement agencies nationwide rely on our expertise to make an impact on personal safety and crime every day. For more information on how NCPC can be a public safety expert for you or how to "Take A Bite Out Of Crime®," visit www.ncpc.org.

Become a fan of NCPC:  Friend us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Find us on YouTube

About AlertID, Inc.

Live Safely™ with AlertID.   AlertID is the safe way to receive trusted public safety alerts and share information with neighbors.

Alerts are provided by trusted sources including public safety agencies, local law enforcement, schools, neighborhood groups, neighbors, family members and friends.  This first-of-its-kind, fast-growing network is the leader in helping people protect their families and communities throughout the United States and is poised to evolve into the world's go-to public safety and security resource.  For information on critical public safety alerts and sharing information with neighbors, friends and family across the country, visit www.AlertID.com.

Become a fan of AlertID:  Friend us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

SOURCE AlertID