Andrea E.: I have 2 kids Ages 3 1/2 and 18 months, and next year my oldest is starting school. But I am a little afraid to send her to school because my estranged sister, who is mentally ill, has tried in the past to kidnap my children in one way or another. So, how can I keep my child safe while she is at school and make sure my sister or anyone else can’t just walk off with my child?

JW: You’ve brought up a very important question Andrea. Even though people most often think of kidnapping by strangers, most abducted children are taken by a family member. The experts at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) remind us that even a family abduction can have very devastating effects on a child. Continue reading How Can I Protect My Child From A Family Abduction? »

Like everybody, you’ve undoubtedly received a ton of emails with “safety tips.” Because so many of these tips have been circulating around the Internet for years, the information gets changed and distorted. Some of the tips are bogus–created by someone out to generate a little attention and see how far they can spread the lies.

Michelle Sigona set out to figure out which ones are real and which are myths.

Myths:

• Entering your ATM PIN Number in reverse will notify police.
• Your car door can be opened by using a keyless remote pressed at a far away location into a cell phone holding your phone next to your car door.
• Dialing 112 will connect you to a Worldwide Emergency Operator even if your signal is blocked.
• Dialing *3370# will unlock hidden battery power in your cell phone.

Realities:

• In a disaster or emergency when many people are using their cell phones you’ll have an easier time contacting a loved one by text messaging rather than calling.
• An old cell phone without service will connect to 911 if it has power.

We use our cell phones every day to keep in touch with our family, friends, and colleagues. But not everyone is aware that your cell phone could also help to save your life: if you find yourself in an emergency situation, your cell phone might be your only means of getting through to someone who can come to your rescue. Even if you are unable to make a call, your phone can still help. Brittany Cozart, 20, was seriously injured in a plane crash, yet was able to communicate her situation through text messaging and guide her rescuers to her location.

Check out these other articles right here on the AMW Safety Center to learn of other ways your cell phone can help keep you safe:

Should I Have 911 On Speed Dial?

“In Case Of Emergency” Contacts

Poster by Rachel Stevenson, winner of 2007 DOJ National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest.

The AMBER Alert was created in memory of Amber Hagerman, a nine-year old girl in Arlington, Texas who was snatched from her bicycle and found brutally murdered in a drainage ditch four miles away. A neighbor heard Amber scream and saw a man pull Amber from her bike and speed off in his pickup truck. The neighbor provided police with a description of the suspect and his vehicle. Continue reading AMBER Alerts: Make A Difference For Abducted Children »