Predator Proof Your Teen This Summer

While summer brings new adventures for teenagers, it also creates a greater distance between you and them. This growing-up process is healthy, but it needs to be done in a safe manner. You can increase your teen's safety by reiterating a few Predator Proof tips:

- Remind them that predators don't hide in bushes. According to statistics from the Department of Justice, FBI and National Victims Center, 85% of attacks on women, teens and children are from someone familiar to the victim -- classmate, friend of a friend, neighbor, relative, spouse or boyfriend, workmate or new acquaintance.

- Do not be so eager to give away trust. Take time to get to know new acquaintances, observe their behavior, and know that trust is earned and takes time.

- Use the buddy system. Predators generally need two things to be successful: privacy and control. For a predator, it's less appealing to try to control two people, and the buddy system certainly eliminates privacy.

- If something feels wrong, it is wrong. Trust your gut instincts and intuition.
Leave present company, don't get in the car, depart from the party -- politely dismiss yourself from whatever situation you're not comfortable with and head for safe ground.

- Your voice is a weapon, use it. Video from recent abductions in parking lots during broad daylight show the victims never screamed. If you feel threatened remove yourself from the situation. If you cannot do that, your voice becomes very valuable. Use it to scream for help. Predators hate attention.

- Know where your teens are. If something happens, you'll need to know where to look for them. Convey to teens that this will not diminish their independence. In fact, it will gain your trust.