Just over a week ago the parents of a six-year-old placed a frantic 9-1-1 call reporting their daughter missing.  Family members had canvassed the neighborhood for half-an-hour but when their efforts produced no result panic quickly set in.

They looked everywhere they could think of.  In vehicles, the house, and places outside the house where the missing child might be. But she was no where to be found.

Only a parent who has faced a crisis of this nature can understand the fear they were experiencing.   

It was then they called the Sheriff’s Office.

Upon receipt of their call dispatchers in the 9-1-1 center directed several deputies to the area to assist with efforts to find the child. At the same time, additional personnel were en-route to provide sufficient manpower in the event the search was expanded to cover a larger area.

The Sheriff’s department’s first responders went back over the same area where the family looked.  The house, surrounding area and vehicles parked in the driveway were checked again to make sure the six-year-old had not been overlooked.   

As two hours passed since she was last seen,  plans were being formulated to expand over a wide area using approximately three dozen volunteers who had responded from the Sheriff’s office, the community, and that community’s volunteer fire department all wanting to help.

Then over the radio was heard “ she’s been found,” bringing a sigh of relief to everyone.   

It was relief for the parents and other family members that she was safe. The officer who found her had decided to look closely at the rear seat of a king-cab pickup truck that was parked at the girl’s residence.  There he found her asleep, out of view behind the rear seat.

Child Restraints and Safety Belts  - Ingredients for Safe Motoring

Whether you’re traveling across the country or across town, the operator of a motor vehicle bears responsibility for their own safety and the safety of any passengers.

As Sheriff, I encourage you to operate your vehicle in a safe manner, don’t get behind the wheel if you are impaired, avoid distractions such as adjusting the radio, obey the speed limit and keep your vehicle under control at all times.

You should also buckle up every time you are in a vehicle and make sure child passengers are properly restrained.  A major concern during the past few years has been the issue of child passengers and air bag safety.  Air bags save lives.   But they work best when everyone is buckled and when children age 12 and under are properly restrained in the back seat. An infant riding in a rear-facing child seat must never be placed in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger side air bag.  The message is clear; “Everyone buckled: Kids in back.”

Motor vehicle injury is the leading killer of children more than one year of age. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child safety seats, when used correctly, can reduce fatalities among young children less than five years of age by 71 percent  -one of the most effective safety innovations ever developed.

Children must rely on their parents to use safety seats correctly  - infant, toddler/convertible, or booster seat.  NHTSA recommends that all children ride in the back seat  -using rear-facing seats until a child is 20 pounds and one year old, forward-facing over one-year old and 20 pounds up to 40 pounds, and booster seats until the child can use the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belts. Parents need to read the information provided in their vehicle owner’s manual regarding child safety seat placement in the vehicle along with the proper use instructions provided with the child safety seat.

The primary points of Tennessee’s law are:

• Any child under the age of 1 year old and 20 pounds or less must be in a rear-facing child restraint IN THE REAR SEAT, if available.
• Any child from 1 through 3 years old weighing more than 20 pounds should be transported in a forward facing child restraint seat IN THE REAR SEAT, if available.
• Any child 4 – 8 years old measuring less than five feet in height must be in a belt positioning booster seat IN THE REAR SEAT, if available.
• Any child 9 – 12 years old measuring 4 feet 9 inches or more in height must use a seat belt and THE REAR SEAT is recommended.
• Any child 13 to 17 years old must use a seat belt and may sit in the front or rear of the vehicle.

It should also be noted the driver of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring passengers under the age of 16 are properly restrained.  Violators can be fined up to $50.   If the child’s parent or legal guardian is present but not driving, they are responsible for making sure that the child is properly transported and may be fined for non-compliance.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories have laws requiring the use of child safety seats. While penalties vary from state to state, violators can face fines, points on their driving record, or more serious charges.

Getting your older kids into the habit of buckling up will teach them a safety practice that can save lives. It will be much easier if you set the example. Make your concern for passenger safety known by insisting that everyone -even adult passengers- buckle up.

It’s the safe way to go!

Seniors should be on guard for offers that sound too good to be true, whether its a free vacation, sweepstakes prizes, cures for cancer or arthritis, or a low-risk, high yield investment scheme. Never give your credit card, Social Security, or bank account numbers to anyone over the phone. It is illegal for telemarketers to ask for these numbers to verify a prize or gift.

Con artists use any number of techniques to make what they are offering sound too good to refuse. Children should educate their aging parents about schemes that promise wealth but require an up-front payment by the recipient as a show of good faith.     

Many of the scams that are being perpetrated today originate in foreign countries. Once an unsuspecting victim’s money leaves the US it is very difficult to recover. The rule of thumb – If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

Seniors are also a target of good deals on home repairs. Fly-by-night contractors often pressure unsuspecting homeowners for full payment before they begin the project.  They then disappear before they finish the project or they leave the homeowner with sloppy workmanship.  Legitimate contractors should be willing to accept payment for satisfactory work as the project progresses.     

 Don’t let anyone rush you into anything - an insurance policy, a sales agreement, a contract. Read it carefully and have someone you trust check it over.

Beware of individuals claiming to represent companies, consumer organizations, or government agencies that offer to recover lost money from fraudulent telemarketers for a fee.  If you are suspicious, check it out with your police or sheriff’s office, the Better Business Bureau, or the consumer protection office.  

In previous columns I have discussed ways that can help homeowners lessen their chances of becoming the victim of a crime.   

It is equally important to be a good neighbor, to commit to efforts in your community aimed at crime prevention. Keeping an eye for suspicious activity – the concept of neighbor helping neighbor - is one of the basic ways to deter crime and make a neighborhood safer.  You become familiar with your neighbors, their habits and frequent visitors.  It becomes easy to notice situations that appear “out of the ordinary” and vehicles that are prowling to find an unoccupied home to burglarize.   

Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs using the concept of neighbor helping neighbor. It is a proven, effective way to reduce criminal activity through citizen involvement.  Not only do homeowners get involved in the protection of their property, but watch programs promote strong citizen – law enforcement associations.

Founded in 1972, the organization is supported by most sheriffs and chiefs of police across the country.

Local associations work with law enforcement to receive the training they will need and in turn they provide valuable information back to the sponsoring agency.  Thieves often bypass areas where a neighborhood watch sign is posted because they know there is an active group of concerned citizens watching out for the welfare of others in the neighborhood.

If your community has a group keep it active.  Schedule frequent meetings for open crime prevention discussions and leave the door open for new residents of the community to join.  Offer them the same training as other members and suggest the association as a way to become acquainted with their new neighbors.  If necessary, canvass door-to-door to recruit members.

Watch meetings should be used as an opportunity to share information about work schedules, those who are home during the day, those who are retired, and those confined indoors by illness.  Watch groups can also be used to determine interest in special activities, such as walking or jogging together.

If you would like more information about Neighborhood Watch contact Sgt. Yvonne Johnson at 728-7318.

Neighborhood watch is a way you can get involved and show your community spirit!