- If you suspect your child is missing, call the police (911) immediately
- Make a note of time, date, and location where you child was last seen and by whom and what your child was wearing.
- Close off the child's room. Do not wash their clothes. Put their hairbrush in a brown paper bag. Do not clean the child's room. Do not remove bedding/sheets. These can be used for identification of your child and for your child's scent for Search and Rescue Dogs.
- Find pictures of your child. Have 20 copies made immediately. Keep track of the originals and file them away. Do the same with any videotapes of your child.
- Call The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 1 800 THE LOST (1-800-843-5678)
- Always keep your telephone staffed incase your child tries to call, get caller ID and an answering machine with a message to accept collect phone calls from your child
- Find the most recent photograph of your child so you can make posters.
- Maintain a positive attitude. The best piece of advice that we can give to you is to maintain a positive attitude. Remember that your child is depending upon you and you must focus on what you are doing at all times.
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