Dignity Memorial Escape School - Child Safety Techniques
Dignity Memorial Escape School is a nationally recognized program that teaches children and parents how to recognize deceptive practices of a would-be-kidnapper while demonstrating escape tactics children can use in case of abduction. The program has also been featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Good Morning America," "America's Most Wanted, " "Leeza," "Hard Copy," "The View," and in "The New York Times," the "Washington Times-Herald," and "Parents" magazine. How do I locate a presenter in my area? A list of presenters is listed on the website. Escape School Teaches Child Safety Techniques Knowing some basic safety skills could save a child's life. Escape School Lessons: Windmill Technique Velcro Technique Bicycle Techniques Crab Crawl Technique http://www.escapeschool.com/esAbout.shtml

Sunday, February 05, 2006 3:47 P.M. Q-C kids learn to fight off abductors By Christine Mastalio More than 50 children and their parents visited the Family Museum in Bettendorf on Saturday, but they didn’t play at the grocery store or experience the tornado simulator. They were there to learn about child abduction prevention from the Escape School program. The Escape School is a national program sponsored by Dignity Memorial funeral homes and cemeteries. The school motto is, “Be smart, not scared.” Cherie Emmick, director of Community Outreach Programs for Runge Mortuary and Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery, said the Escape School is more than a traditional “stranger danger” program. She used Powerpoints, video clips and skits to demonstrate what to do in case of an abduction situation. “(At Runge Mortuary), we see the end result and that’s not anything we want to do,” she said. “We don’t want to see children come here.” Emmick handed out T-shirts to volunteers who acted out skits during the hour-long presentation. An 8-year-old-girl learned to shove her bike into her mock attacker so she could escape back into the audience. Braxton Hamilton of Moline brought his two daughters. “I really liked the bike tips, because the girls ride their bikes in the neighborhood,” Hamilton said. “I think we’re going to go home and practice that one.” Marcy Boeh of Bettendorf said she got new suggestions from the presentation. Her 5-year-old son, Logan, now knows what he would do if a stranger approached him in a car. “I would run in the opposite direction,” Logan said. The Escape School lesson taught kids how to attract attention when in trouble, how to confidently ask for help, how to leave clues for the police, and how to implement simple defensive moves. Everyone in the audience learned to move their arms in a “windmill” fashion to break the grip of their attacker. “In my opinion my (6-year-old twins) would have absorbed more if they were older, but I think they got the basics,” said Kris Ratigan of Davenport. “Already my son is wanting to practice the windmill.” The Escape School is free of charge and gives regular presentations to families in the area. “It’s important to teach parents along with children, because if parents don’t see it, they’re not so apt to talk about it,” Emmick said. “If it comes from Mom and Dad, it’s going to last longer.” The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com. http://ads.qctimes.com/articles/2006/02/05/news/local/doc43e583cf37b73660678272.txt