As families head to shopping malls and outdoor venues to enjoy "the most wonderful time of the year," it can sometimes be tough for parents to keep track of their kids.
If the unthinkable happens, and a child disappears, would you know what to do?
Each year, more than 460,000 children are reported missing, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
But, there is reason for hope. Increased public awareness, training, laws and technology have led to more missing children coming home now than at any other point in history.
Georgia has a Child Abduction Response Team — individuals from various state agencies, including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Georgia State Patrol, who are trained and prepared to respond to a missing/endangered or abducted child. CART pulls together resources to aid in the search and rescue effort, and to assist the agency of jurisdiction in its investigation.
Individuals who believe they have seen a missing child are urged to call 1-800-843-5678 (THE LOST).
Other protocols are in place to protect children, including apps on phones so that parents can always know where their kids are.
One notable free app offered by the FBI allows parents to store their children's photos and other vital information for quick access if a child ever goes missing. The app includes tips on keeping children safe, as well as specific guidance on what to do in the first 48 crucial hours after a child disappears.
Also, kids ID bracelets allow teachers or first responders to have access to emergency contact information if a child ever becomes lost or in an accident.
Children who are missing are placed on an Amber Alert so the public can join in the search for missing children. The Amber Alert System began in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children.
Amber stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response and was created as a legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, and then brutally murdered.
Once law enforcement has determined a child has been abducted, and the abduction meets Amber Alert criteria, law enforcement notifies broadcasters and state transportation officials.
Amber Alerts are broadcast on radio and television, and DOT highway signs. The alerts can also be broadcast through lottery, digital billboards, Internet ad exchanges, Internet service providers, Internet search engines, and wireless devices such as cellphones.
