Recent tragic events have brought issue of child abduction tothe headlines again, sending a jolt of fear into families everywhere.If it can happen to Danielle Van Dam and Samantha Runnion it can happen to anyone. But instead of causing fear these tragic cases can serve as an opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about dangers of abduction and give them important information in case worst should happen. Many children have survived abduction attemptsbecause they knew what to do to protect themselves. Here’s what you should know:

Kids need to know and be able to spell their full name and address (including city and state)and phone number.

Children should know what to do if they become lost or separated from you. Tailor this information to different circumstances, i.e. what should they do if they become lost at store, mall, beach, amusement park, etc.

They should know how to dial 911 and when number should be used.

Your child should not walk to and from school alone. There is safety in numbers, even if those numbers are other children.

--One American turns 50 every 7.5 seconds. --One in 6 Americans will be 65 or older by year 2020, with an estimated 75 million by 2010. --In 1996, first wave of Baby Boomers turned 50. --In 2000, nearly 40% of federal budget was spent on aging-related programs. --After age 75, most women are widowed and live alone. --After age 75, most men are married and live with their spouse. --In nursing homes, 70% of residents are women. --Roughly 56% of Older Americans Act budget is spent on nutrition programs for elderly -- meals on wheels, congregate meal sites, etc. The rates of malnutrition risk among elderly are estimated at somewhere between 64% and 88%. --Today, fastest growing age group in this country is women age 85 and older. --Seven (7) million over age 65 require help with daily living: feeding, dressing, bathing. --Social and psychological support is most often provided to elderly parent(s) by middle-aged daughter(s).

American Demographics magazine reports 70 million grandparents in US today, with an average age of 47 for first-time grandparents, who spend an estimated 35 billion annually on their grandchildren.

People concerned about Social Security's survival in its present form are probably wise to be skeptical. Today there are 6 wage-earners for each person on Social Security benefits. Shortly, and no one seems to be entirely certain when this will occur, there will be two wage-earners for each person receiving Social Security benefits.