radKIDS at GAC press release

For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Meg Reggie
404-580-0666
meg@mrpratl.com

Revolutionary safety training for children in Atlanta July 20-31
radKIDS recognized as national leader in safety education

ATLANTA, GA – July 20-31, Greater Atlanta Christian School, along with Keep
Georgia Safe.org, will train nearly 50 Atlanta area students between the ages of 5 - 12 in radKIDS. A revolutionary hands-on educational program that provides techniques and skills for children on how to recognize, avoid, resist and escape dangerous situations, abduction and harm, radKIDS is the national leader in safety education and violence prevention for children.

Offered at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, the radKIDS training will culminate with an abduction simulation by Steve Daley, founder and executive director of radKIDS, Inc., and a national leading children’s safety expert. To date, radKIDS has empowered more than 125,000 children with life saving skills and saved thousands of children from abduction, abuse, sexual assault, bullying, and abuse.

The radKIDS training is one part of the ongoing safety and crime prevention training education brought to Georgia by Keep Georgia Safe.org. March 30th through April 3rd of this year, Keep Georgia Safe sponsored the training of 23 local teachers, counselors, police officers and parents in the radKIDS curriculum. The training at Greater Atlanta Christian will be led by Kim Kinser and Missy Doris, both of whom were certified earlier this year at Keep Georgia Safe’s training seminar.

Nearly 58,000 children are abducted each year by non-family members. 85% of the time, the abduction occurs not because of the “lost puppy” trick, but through the use of physical force. Sadly, 74% of the abducted children who are murdered are killed within the first three hours of their abduction. Keep Georgia Safe strives to educate our children and our families to prevent these abductions from ever happening.

Keep Georgia Safe founder and chairman, Gary Martin Hays commends Greater Atlanta Christian School for recognizing the need for this vital training to our children. “I am honored to help be a part of bringing the radKIDS training to Georgia to help break the cycle of violence and to stop predatory crimes against our children,” says Hays, “radKIDS is the national leader in children’s safety education, and it is my hope that other schools will follow the lead of Greater Atlanta Christian and incorporate this training into the curriculum and after school programs.”

Dr. David L. Fincher, President of Greater Atlanta Christian School, is pleased to offer this important training to the students of GAC, as well as other children in metro Atlanta. “The safety of our children is, and has always been, a high priority.” says Dr. Fincher, “When Greater Atlanta Christian faculty saw the Keep Georgia Safe program, we knew it could make a life-saving difference for children. We adopted it quickly as part of our Greater Atlanta Christian School program, and are pleased by the strong response by families wanting their children prepared and ready should danger come their way. We are glad to be part of preparing them.”

radKIDS at GAC

radKIDS, the nations leading safety empowerment program, is being offered as two camp sessions at Greater Atlanta Christian School this July.
Program Topics Include:
Home, School and Vehicle Safety, Out and About Safety
Realistic Defense Against Abduction
Good-Bad-Uncomfortable Touch and more
Stranger Tricks (including physical Defense against Abduction)
Self-realization of personal power
Class Dates/Times:
July 20th-July 24, 10am-12 Ages 5-7 & 1:30-3:30 Ages 8-12
July 27th-July31st 10am-12 Ages 5-7 & 1:30-3:30 Ages 8-12
To Register online:
www.greateratlantachristian.org
-see upcoming events at GAC~Right side of page under July 20-24 & 27-31
*you do not have to be a GAC student to attend GAC summer camp
for more info on radKIDS please visit www.radKIDS.org or www.keepgeorgiasafe.org
for phone questions contact 770-934-8000

Out and About Safety for Children

The recent momslikeme.com poll on safety topics indicated Out and About Safety as a top concern. Let's discuss how to best keep your children safe when Out and About.

radKIDS, the nations leading safety empowerment program for children ages 5-12, has a best practice for children when Out and About called SIGHT-SOUND-DISTANCE.

When Out and About:
1. Children should always be in Sight of their parents
2. Close enough to to hear (Sound) Mom or Dad.
3. And no more than 3 seconds away from parents (Distance).

Additionally, Children should never go to the bathroom alone!

For more safety tips and resources please visit keepgeorgiasafe.org

Be Safe and Stay Alert!

GBI Missing Children's Day Sat. May 16th

I just had to get the word out about this great opportunity to take the kids to the GBI headquarters, have fun and learn about safety-http://gbi.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,67862954_67866877_139822692,00.html
Sat. May 16th 11am-4pm
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
3121 Panthersville Road
Decatur, GA 30034
One Free child indentification kit per child
Free Activities for children
Fire Trucks, Helicopters, Moon walks, and more!!!


Please come out and join the GBI as they honor and remember Georgia's missing and endangered children.

Thanks!

Bullying Prevention

Let's learn more about bullying prevention and radKIDS.

radKIDS is a personal empowerment safety education program for children. radKIDS teaches children using drilll based scenarious and dynamic simulation. Learning how to be assertive and respond appropiately in dangerous situations is a great self-esteem builder for children. Which in turn, is a great formula for fending off potiential bullies!

The 3 rules that all radKIDS know:
1. No one has the right to hurt me because I am special!
2. I don't have the right to hurt anyone else unless they try to hurt me and then I stop them!
3. If anyone tries to hurt me, trick me, or make me feel bad inside, it's not my fault--So I can tell!

radKIDS learn through a conversation drill that freinds don't hurt friends. Childrn learn that teasing and using words that hurt is not cool. During the "drill on the fly" or physical resistance skill building ,children practice blocking-running-telling. radKIDS revoulutionary bullying prevention program allows children to build their muscle memory by effectively training the brain how to respond to a bully attack. Through education, repition, and physical skill- blocking a bully attack, running away, and telling a trusted adult becomes second nature to a child. In addition, children completing the drill feel more confident in knowing they have a plan to follow (that will automatically kick in) if they should find themselves confronted with a real bully.

Let's review.
First, teach your children the three above radKIDS rules...remember these are life skills that will carry them to adulthood.

Second, talk openly to your children about bullies and make sure they know they can always come to you with a problem. Tell them even adults have to enlist others when a problem seems too big or makes you really upset.

Third, pracitce "what would you do scenarios" with your children and make sure they understand that "real" friends do not say mean or hurtful words. (remember during a "what would you do" scenario to most importantly listen to your children and their anwers. There are no right or wrong answers. If they do not repsond as your like, discuss, while encouraging them, a better plan.)

Lastly, ask your local school or community center to adopt a radKIDS curriculum or find out how you can start one of your own at www.radKIDS.org or contact keepgeorgiasafe.org.

Be aware and Stay Safe!

Should we really be worried about our family's safety in Georgia?

Crime occurs every day in all communities right here in Georgia. It does not discriminate on sex, race, or socioeconomic status. We see it in pretty graphic detail when we turn on the television. We read about it when we pick up the newspaper and we hear about it when we turn on the radio. If our kids walk into the room, we quickly reach for the remote to change the channel and hope and pray they did not hear or see the violence. Your child asks you why you changed the channel and you simply respond that you wanted to see what else was on tv.
We know crime exists. But when it comes to our family - to our children - we never like to consider the possibility that something could happen to them. Is ignoring the problem really going to protect you and your family? Do you still think the world hasn’t changed since you were a kid. Remember those days? Your parents would leave the doors unlocked at night and the windows open to allow the fresh air to gently blow through the home. This was a time when no one would have ever thought about installing an alarm in their own home. We didn’t know about mace or tasers or carjackings. The bicycle was our method of transportation as we would ride it most anywhere at any time and never think twice about it.
Times have changed . . .
There is nothing like the innocence of a child. They think the world is a beautiful place. Why would anyone want to hurt anyone else - especially them? As a parent, we always have concerns for their safety and well-being. But we don’t want to alarm them or over-react. We also don’t want to destroy their innocence or paralyze them with fear.
So we revert back to denying the problem exists. It could never happen to me or my family. Things like this always happen to someone else. " I know how to be safe", and we re-assure ourselves " I never leave my children alone." We are comforted when we remember that they understand the whole "stranger - danger" concept. We reach for the remote, sit back on the couch, and turn the tv to our favorite reality show.
But let me give you a few disturbing facts about crime here in Georgia, and then you can answer whether or not you are worried about your family’s safety:
* According to a report from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics Database that profiles the number of reported indexed crimes, in 2007 in Georgia, there were:
- 712 Murders
- 2,071 Rapes
- 16,880 Robberies
- 25,235 Aggravated Assaults
- 86,461 Burglaries
So we know there is a problem. We realize our children are vulnerable. We know we are at risk. What do we do to protect ourselves and our families from being a statistic?
We believe knowledge is the ultimate defense. If we do not know HOW to avoid a dangerous situation, or recognize WHEN we are in a dangerous situation, then we are very vulnerable to having bad things happen. Our mission at Keep Georgia Safe.org is to provide powerful and realistic safety education and crime prevention training to Georgia’s families.
I encourage you to visit www.KeepGeorgiaSafe.org for FREE information on how you can protect your family - and yourself!