Smart 10-Year-Old Girl Asks For Code Word And Avoids Potential Kidnapping

Aug 09, 2022 by apost team

It's a sad fact of life that some people do not have good intentions. This is true for all parts of life, but parents should be especially careful not to take unnecessary risks when it comes to children. While no one wants to imagine that someone may kidnap their child, the reality is that it happens.

One 10-year-old girl experienced a tense moment in Pinal County, Arizona, when an unknown man tried to lure her into his car by pretending her family had been in an accident back in 2018. But little Maddison kept her cool and remembered the code word her family had discussed for just such a situation.

With almost 800,000 children that go missing every year, according to CNN, parents need to do everything they can to keep their kids safe. The best way parents can make sure their children stay safe is to prepare them for the worst scenarios.

For one family, this preparation may have saved their child's life.

After this story was posted online, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office warned the rest of the world to take heed and follow the same strategies these parents used.

The story took place on Nov. 7, 2018. That Wednesday, a deputy was dispatched to a house in the area after it was reported a kidnapping attempt had taken place. When the attempt occurred, a 10-year-old girl was approached as she walked with her friend to a park. A man in a white SUV drove up to them, telling the girl that her brothers had been involved in a terrible accident. The man went on to demand that the girl come with him.

Having been prepared by her parents, the girl asked the man to share the "code word" for such a scenario. However, the man wasn't prepared for this response and drove off.

Families have used code words in the past as a way to send secure messages during times of crisis or when parents send another adult to pick the children up. This little girl knew just what to ask when approached by a stranger claiming to have information about her brothers. The sheriff pointed out that more families need to spread the word about stranger danger and start teaching their children about code words.

After the incident, Maddison, the brave girl that knew the code word, went on Good Morning America to share her story. Maddison explained that during the moment, she felt scared but knew she had to make sure that she could trust the man. Parents should use this story to let their kids know about the dangers of talking to a stranger. By coming up with a code word, families can help their children stay safe, even when they aren't around. While Maddison was able to stay safe that day, someone else may not be so lucky. The police started a search for the SUV that was sadly fruitless.

In order for parents to protect their kids from wherever they are, they need to make sure they are properly prepared for any scenario. Teaching them a code word is a great way to start the conversation of safety.

According to Good Morning America, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children expert Callahan Walsh said that 80% of children can get away from potential abductors by doing something like kicking, screaming or using a code word.

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Do you have any other ideas like this one to keep your kids safe? Let us know what they are, and spread the word to keep your friends and family's children safe, too!