Okay friends... a little public service announcement.
Lately, I have seen a LOT of flutter about human trafficking. People posting notes and videos that someone in their area saw suspicious people that gave them the willies... and they share it on FB because that's what we do now.
Here is why I won't simply share those notes... because while sharing the crap out of this stuff raises awareness and sparks fear in people...both of which are good... that is no longer enough. It is no longer enough to make sure everyone knows. We have to go a few steps further.
I have had my own personal scare. It is what has spurred me to do many of the things I do today. (If you care to hear about it, I will tell you. But I’m not going to include it here.)
So... I want to ask of you... when you see these posts, instead of sharing and considering that enough... get out there and prepare. Prepare yourself and others... understand that sharing and raising awareness is great - but you also have to be prepared, in case you are directly involved in a similar situation.
My suggestion... first and foremost, keep your head up... don't look at your cell phone while you're out walking around. Be alert. Watch people around you. If you notice someone acting dodgy or watching you - be loud and confront them if they get close. Always have your cell phone out. If they make you uneasy and don't get close enough to confront, call someone and strike up a conversation when they are in ear shot, talk about them. Tell the person on the other end you might have to contact security or the police if the freak that you keep seeing doesn’t go away.
Keep your kiddos as close as possible. (Believe me as they get older and more independent, this is a challenge.) Get them a cell phone when they are old enough. Set it up and teach them how to call you if they are in trouble. They also have a GPS tracker in them that can be activated to help you keep track of them. When our boys go anywhere, they take their phones with them. They know to contact us if they are going to be late getting home from a friend’s - even if that is right next door. They know if we call them, they better answer or call right back.
Get yourself and your children in a self defense class. After this incident, it was solidified in my mind any children I had would be trained in self defense once they were old enough. I have made good on that promise to myself. (If you’re in the Rochester area and want a good, affordable program, pm me.)
If you see someone going around taking pictures of people... confront them. Take pictures of them. Be obvious about it. They don't want to be identifiable.
Talk to your kids about strangers. Tell them to be aware of everything going on around them. If someone makes them uneasy, tell them to get away from that person as quickly as possible. If someone grabs them, let them know it is not enough to simply get away... they need to be as loud as possible. They need to garner attention. If mom and dad aren’t close by, they need to go to another trusted adult’s house and give as good a description as possible to them... and let them know what happened. Practice this with them. Practice observing and describing things. Practice helps them react accordingly if something happens. Let them know it is completely fine to be wary of others and be aware of their behaviors. Teach them to be okay with asking for help of trusted adults.
And, most importantly, if you see people in your area that make you feel uneasy. If you see someone watching others or a group that is spread out and watching people and approaching people or taking pictures of people without their knowledge... get a picture of all involved... a good one. Get a plate number and description of the car... and report that to the police.
We will not create safety and end this nonsense unless we are vigilant.
