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Protection of our cadets from strangers is a major safety issue. With that in mind, Lt. Bumgardner has requested that we repost the following article:
Protecting Our Cadets From Strangers
A CAP cadet was approached, while on a mission at the local county fair, by a man in civilian clothes identifying himself as a CAP member. He ordered the cadet to go with him to look for a missing child. After the cadet was discovered missing, radio calls were made and the cadet was located and returned to his post.
The cadet was unharmed, the missing child was found, but the man was not a CAP member. How many of your cadets would also leave their post, alone, with an unkown adult when asked for help?
Abduction of 12 to 17 year-old youths by child predators, who are masters at persuasion, is a nation-wide problem. Various tricks strangers use to lure our youth are: asking for directions or help in finding a lost pet or person; requesting help for a faked injury; posing as an authority figure and asking the youth to leave with them; or relaying a false request by a "parent" to pick up their child due to a family crisis. The cadet's name can be obtained from their nametag.
What procedures and policies are in place or could be implemented in your squadron that addresses these and other scenarios that will protect our cadets and prevent them from any awkward or potentially harmful situations?
North Central Region Commander Col. Steve Kuddes offers these suggestions. During community service missions, cadets could work in pairs. If they must work alone, they should stay close enough to other members to always remain in visual contact. Have frequent radio check-ins.
Designate a roamer to patrol and assure all are present and accounted for. Cadets should switch posts often. This prevents a predator from having the time to spot, select and formulate a plan and return for an abduction.
Col. Kuddes encourages wings to set guidelines for their members serving in public places. Officers should review CPPT. Cadets should take orders only from predetermined CAP members. Cadets should not leave their post to assist strangers, but should direct strangers asking for assistance to an officer or the command center.
For more information on the Safety of our youth, please check these websites,
or
Lt. Col. Brenda Allison
Click For More Safety
Safety
Most people today carry cell phones. Here is a simple way that we can make use of our cell phones to provide emergency information in the event we cannot do so. You might even want to consider multiple "ICE" entries such as ICE2 and ICE3 for 2nd and 3rd contacts.
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