A Year 6 student from Adelaide has made headlines today after her quick thinking foiled an abduction attempt.
The Reynella East College student was approached by a man on Monday who said her mother had sent him to pick her up from school.
The child came up with a lie on the spot, and told him that her parents were dead.
The man quickly got in his car and drove away - and the girl has since been praised for her bravery.
The Daily Mail reports that school principal Caroline Green congratulated the girl for 'thinking on her feet' so quickly.
"To get herself out of harm's way immediately is something to be congratulated for," she said.
The story has chilled Australian parents - and with that in mind, we came up with a list of strategies to help keep kids safe..
Have a secret word or phrase that your kids learn by heart. Then, teach your kids to never go with anyone unless they repeat the code to them. The code word should also be used if the child is ever home alone, and someone knocks at the door.
That way, they'll never be stranded and tempted to walk by themselves, or get in a car with a stranger.
That way, if anyone approaches them, they'll know to refuse.
Children are more likely to trust a stranger if they know their name.
As well as who they are with, and when they will be home.
Make sure your child knows agreed-upon safe places they can go if they feel threatened.
A common ploy is for a predator to ask a child for help finding a lost pet or child. Teach your kids that an adult should never need help from a child they don't know.
Whether it's a sibling or a friend, make sure they stick together at all times.
Teach your children to scream, ask for help and yell "kidnap!" if they ever feel threatened. Hopefully, a clearly-distressed child will prompt strangers to intervene.
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation teaches children how to react in uncomfortable situations. It's important your children understand they can leave a situation they don't like - even if that means refusing to hug and kiss friends or relatives.
Your kids don't need to have black belts in karate - but according to The Huffington Post, some simple techniques could save their life in an emergency. They include The Velcro technique (grabbing onto a solid object and refusing to let go), The Windmill technique (rotating arms in a large circle, which makes it harder for a kidnapper to get a good grip) and The Car technique (teaching them to remain calm, and then jump around trying to escape if they are ever bundled into a car with a stranger).
Hopefully, our kids will never need to use these tactics. But if they are ever in danger, these simple techniques could help prevent a tragedy.
What tactics do you use to keep your kids safe?
