GENERAL STEPS TO KIDNAPPING PREVENTION:
In order to prevent the psychological and physical effects of kidnapping, and kidnapping in general, certain safety measures must be taken.

In general, parents are encouraged to:

1. Never leave their child unattended, however brief they mean to be.
2. Familiarize themselves with their child's friends (and their families), as well as their daily activities.
3. Insist that their children return home at a certain time (curfew).
4. Be alert to any person older than the child that is paying an unusual amount of attention, or offers exuberant gifts to, the child.
5. Teach their children to say "no" when they feel someone is wrong or making them feel uncomfortable.
6. Encourage that their children should report any approaches of anyone who made them feel uncomfortable

If parents have a need to hire a babysitter, certain precautions must also be taken:

1. Obtain and thoroughly check references if you are not familiar with the sitter.
2. Nonchalantly make unexpected visits.
3. Make sure that they understand that the child is not to be released, unless previously stated, to another person.
4. Ensure that he/she understands his/her responsibilities and duties, that he/she familiarizes him/herself with daily routines/activities, and that he/she is given a list of addresses and telephone numbers where you can be contacted. Babysitters should always make sure that all the doors are locked, that strangers should not enter the home, that information should not be volunteered over the phone, and that the child is carefully monitored (when awake as well as asleep).
5. Ask the babysitter of any occurrences that happened in your absence, including phone calls, unusual incidents, and the child's behavior/activity.
6. Ask the child of any occurrences that happened in your absence after the babysitter has left.
   

Parents should never place their children's names in visible places, such as on clothing, in lunchboxes, etc. They should never permit their children to sell material door-to-door, even for fund raisers.

There are a number of basic techniques that may efficiently prevent kidnapping, and that parents are encouraged to teach their children. If someone attempts to grab you:

1. Squat down (not away) and run away.
2. Pull out of the grabbed clothing (jacket, backpack, etc) and run away.
3. Strike the person in a vulnerable area (groin, throat, etc.) and run.
4. Grab hold of a static object (pole, hydrant, tree, etc.) and don't let go until someone assists you.
   

If someone pulls you into a vehicle:

1. Open the door and run when the vehicle stops in traffic, at a stop light, store, or any other public area.
2. Attempt to jump into the back seat when the vehicle is in motion. The driver cannot control both you and the vehicle at the same time. When the vehicle stops, open the door and run.
3. If forced into a trunk, damage the taillight bulbs.