Black Friday: The Deals, the Steals and the Risks

Solutions for Keeping Your Child Safe This Holiday Shopping Season Every year, millions of shoppers descend upon malls, department stores and clothing outlets the day after Thanksgiving. Dubbed “Black Friday” this term refers to the profits a company makes on this lucrative day. Unfortunately, it can also be used to describe over 2,000 families each year who lose their children on this day. A family event, Black Friday is the most affordable way for parents to fulfill their childs holiday wish list. However, oftentimes with their young ones in tow, parents become engulfed in the chaotic shopping affair. Crowds line stores, malls are filled door to door and hours are spent on line waiting to take check out. The hassle of the crowds on this day can be very overwhelming, and quite disturbing. Parents can get easily distracted, and children lost within seconds. Yet, with the help of Child Safety Expert Debra Holtzman, viewers can now learn steps that can be taken to prevent this unforeseen tragedy. Did you know? Nationally about 2,100 children are reported missing everyday Twenty Five percent of all kids are taken by strangers While tempting, parents should not let children roam without supervision in malls New technology and gadgets are available to help parents keep kids safer Guest: Debra Holtzman, J.D., M.A. Child Safety and Health Expert Internationally recognized child safety and health expert Debra Smiley Holtzman is a specialist on the subjects of injury prevention, child safety, parenting issues, food safety, and more. The award-winning parenting author’s latest book, The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications) was released in 2005. Debra appears on the Discovery Health Channel’s TV series, Make Room for Baby. She is also a contributing writer for Today’s Parent. She has been recently featured as a safety expert on NBC’s Today Show, Dateline NBC, CNBC Asia Market Watch, MSNBC, Associated Press Radio, and in Parenting Magazine, Star Magazine, Us Weekly Magazine, USA Weekend Magazine, Reader’s Digest, First For Women Magazine, Boston Globe, Washington Post and Family Circle Magazine. Debra is an attorney and has a master’s degree in occupational safety and health. She is also a certified child passenger safety technician and an American Heart Association BLS CPR/AED instructor for health care providers. She has nearly two decades of experience in the safety and health fields. Debra Holtzman is available to discuss: Tips on keeping children happy, safe and close by while holiday shopping Piece of mind strategies for shopping in crowded malls with children, including technology solutions Multiple safety considerations for children during the holiday season in and out of the home Where to go for more information This interview is produced for: OnGuardKids