Stranger Abduction Sexual Assault Survivor and Child Safety Expert Keith Smith Shares 5 Steps You Can Take to Keep Kids Safe

Trenton, NJ, November 08, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Smith says, "It saddens me to say that I believe sex crimes committed against children will never stop. The life altering physical, emotional, behavioral and social side effects of sexual abuse, suffered by children into adulthood, last a lifetime. With the personal and societal cost of childhood sexual abuse so high, it’s necessary for parents, grandparents and anyone with responsibility for the health and safety of a child to be aware of 5 Steps You Can Take to Keep Kids Safe."

Step 1. Know the Facts

· According to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, approximately 30% of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members; parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.

· An incremental 60% of children who are sexually abused are abused by someone known to them, including neighbors, teachers, coaches, clergy, instructors, camp counselors, baby-sitters, step-parents, older kids in the neighborhood and friends of the family.

· 90% of sexual assaults perpetrated against children are committed by someone known to the child. Since that’s the case, the risk you face may not be from the stranger at the park, but from the very person you allow to take your child to the park.

Step 2. Know the Signs

· There are physical, emotional and behavioral signs that could indicate sexual abuse.

· Bruises, swelling, pain, rashes, cuts, bed wetting, self-mutilation, excessive weight gain or excessive weight loss; prolonged sadness, depression, sleeplessness, nightmares; combative, defiant acts, avoiding contact with friends and relatives, age inappropriate sexual behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts.

· While the presence of some of these physical, emotional or behavioral signs may be associated with, or dismissed as “adolescence,” we should be aware they are well known, documented warning signs of sexual abuse.

Step 3. Know What to Do

· With 90% of sex crimes committed against children committed by family members or someone known to the child, we should minimize the amount of alone time any child spends in one-on-one situations with an adult.

· Demand that adults with school time and after-school access to children are subject to mandatory background checks.

· Don’t leave children in the care of adults with known alcohol or drug problems.

· Understand why a child might not tell. Children remain silent because of manipulation and misplaced guilt, shame, fear and to protect others. If you suspect abuse and your child won’t tell, don’t assume abuse isn’t happening. If you suspect abuse, trust your instinct.

· Use positive stories in the news as a catalyst for discussion. When you hear about the next Amber Alert, discuss it with your child. Let kids know there is a system in place that alerts adults and law enforcement that a child needs help. The next time the news reports a missing child being reunited with their family, talk about it. As scared as a child may be during an assault, or an abduction, if they know that people are looking for them, if they know people are going to help them, the child may find some peace and hope in those thoughts.

Step 4. Know Where to Go

· If you suspect child sexual abuse, anonymous and confidential help is available, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Consider reaching out to ChildHelp at 1-800-4-A-Child or call RAINN, the Rape Abuse Incest National Network at 1-800-656-HOPE.

Step 5. Know What to Say

· One way perpetrators manipulate their child victim is by telling the child no one will believe them. If a child knows before they’re abused, that you will believe them, that they can trust you and that you will help them, you’ve taken away the perpetrators leverage over the innocent child. I pray that you’ll never, ever need to know what to say, but should a child ever disclose to you that they’ve been sexually abused, the child needs to hear you say, "I believe you. You can trust me. I will help you."

About Keith Smith; Keith Smith, the author of Men in My Town, is a Survivor of a Stranger Abduction Sexual Assault. The story of Keith’s assault and his transition from sexual assault victim to survivor has been featured in newspapers and magazines and his program, “5 Steps You Can Take to Keep Kids Safe” has been discussed on radio and television. Keith has lobbied government officials to prevent cutbacks to programs serving children and he’s testified before the New Jersey State Senate Judiciary Committee seeking to eliminate the statute of limitations in civil action relating to sex crimes against children. Keith was one of 200 men who appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s award-winning show on Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

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