Not a topic for some people in wanting to talk about but everyone should know about this topic and the warning signs to know what human trafficking is.   One so your warned and possibly save a life!

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.

What may keep one from seeking help who is a victim can be language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement.  This makes human trafficking a hidden crime.

Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure their victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. They look for people who are susceptible for a variety of reasons, including psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, lack of a social safety net, natural disasters, or political instability. The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.

Know the facts:

-Human trafficking exists in every country, including the United States. It exists nationwide—in cities, suburbs, and rural towns—and possibly in your own community.

-Human trafficking victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. They may come from any socioeconomic group.

-Sex trafficking exists, but it is not the only type of human trafficking. Forced labor is another type of human trafficking; both involve exploitation of people. Victims are found in legitimate and illegitimate labor industries, including sweatshops, massage parlors, agriculture, restaurants, hotels, and domestic service.

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS!

Since human trafficking is often a crime that is hidden in plain sight, it is important to be aware of its warning signs. These warning signs are adapted from information provided by the Polaris Project and its National Human Trafficking Resource Center, which is also used by nv.gov.

Some indications that a person may be a victim of human trafficking include (especially in the case of women and children)

• Appearing malnourished
• Showing signs of physical injuries and abuse
• Avoiding eye contact, social interaction, and authority figures/law enforcement
• Seeming to adhere to scripted or rehearsed responses in social interaction
• Lacking official identification documents
• Appearing destitute/lacking personal possessions
• Working excessively long hours
• Living at place of employment
• Checking into hotels/motels with older males, and referring to those males as boyfriend or “daddy,” which is often street slang for pimp
• Poor physical or dental health
• Tattoos/ branding on the neck and/or lower back
• Untreated sexually transmitted diseases
• Small children serving in a family restaurant
• Security measures that appear to keep people inside an establishment – barbed wire inside of a fence, bars covering the insides of windows
• Not allowing people to go into public alone, or speak for themselves

“While legal definitions of stalking vary from one jurisdiction to another, a good working definition of stalking is: a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear &/or being harmed.”.

SPARC (https://www.stalkingawareness.org)

Stalking is a serious crime that can take a long-term emotional, physical, and financial toll on survivors. Despite the high-profile or celebrity cases involving stranger stalkers, stalking is most often perpetrated by someone the survivor knows and is defined as a patter of behavior directed towards a specific individual causing them to feel fear.

Stalking affects millions of women and men in the United States.

Stalking occurs when someone repeatedly harasses or threatens someone else, causing fear or safety concerns. Most often, stalking occurs by someone the victim knows or with whom they had an intimate relationship.

Help prevent stalking by knowing the warning signs and how to get help.

Stalking tactics can include:

• Unwanted phone calls
• Unwanted emails, instant messages, text messages, voice messages, or social media messages
• Approaching a victim or showing up unwanted, such as at the victim’s home, workplace, or school
• Leaving strange or potentially threatening items for the victim to find
• Watching, following, or tracking a victim
• Sneaking into the victim’s home or car and doing things to scare the victim or let them know the perpetrator had been there

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS):

• Stalking is common. About 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking in their lifetimes.
• Stalking starts early. Nearly 54% of female victims and 41% of male victims experienced stalking before the age of 25.
• Stalking impacts the physical and mental health of victims. Research shows stalking can lead to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. About 68% of female and 70% of male victims experienced threats of physical harm during their lifetime.

Child Stalking

Many times, we hear young adults say that they “Facebook stalked” someone, which simply means they looked through someone’s profile and photos for certain information. This is meant in a joking manner, but stalking is a scary and real thing. It happens more often to young adults, and is becoming easier with modern day technology.

• Over 85 percent of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know, (many times it is a current or former intimate partner).
• In the U.S., 7.5 million people are stalked each year.
• Young adults ages 18-24 experience the highest rates of stalking. 
• Women are stalked 2x higher than men

What Can You Do?

If you feel like you or your child are being stalked:

• Document it. Whether it’s happened twice or 20 times, jot down the incidents and note the date, time, location and any other details that you remember.
• Contact your local police department or stalking unit to report it. Having documented proof of the stalking could assist you in receiving a protection order. A legal advocate will be available to help you through the court process.
• Notify a friend, family member, employer or any other organization with whom you are involved.
• Contact a local agency, such as The Center for Family Safety and Healing, to get help in creating a personalized safety plan.
• If you feel you’re in immediate danger, call 911.
• Get a protection order. Contact your local prosecutor’s office for information on the process for filing.

Everyone can work together to know, name, and stop stalking by:

• Helping others define and recognize stalking behaviors
• Mobilizing men and boys as allies in prevention efforts
• Creating and supporting safe environments within relationships, schools, and communities through programs and policies that promote healthy relationships

Dual and Single parents worry about their kids’ safety constantly. Protect your kids by teaching them about situational awareness and avoiding dangerous situations. From safeguarding your home to equipping your kids with knowledge, you can take steps to keep them safe.

1. Safety Tips for Walking to and from School or the Bus Stop

Kids of single parents often walk to the bus stop or school because their parent is working its always better when a second parent is available who can walk with the child. Unfortunately, there are several dangers for kids who walk to and from school or the bus stop alone. In fact, according to Children’s Health, unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S. for kids between the ages of five and 19. If your kids are under the age of 11, arrange for a neighbor or older student to walk with them and hold their hand when they cross the street.

Single parents also should model appropriate pedestrian rules for your kids. Teach them to walk on a sidewalk or the left side of the street when there is no sidewalk. Practice looking left, then, right, then left again and to continue looking for cars while crossing streets and crossing in front of buses only when the driver says to do so. Teach them to make eye contact with drivers before crossing and to rely on crossing guards for help.

2. Stranger Danger and Kidnapping Tips

The walk to and from school also puts your kids at risk of kidnapping. Be sure to teach them about stranger danger and remind them that most kidnappers don’t look scary. Some have puppies or kittens with them, and some have ice cream or candy.

Make sure your kids know that anyone could harm them, even people who seem nice or who look like helpers. Reassure them that kidnappings are rare, but that not all kidnappers look dangerous or scary. Work with them to observe people and be prepared for someone to approach them. Instruct them to scream for help, fight back, and escape by any means possible should someone grab them.

3. Home Safety Tips

Whether your kids are home alone frequently or not, teach them about home safety. Parents understand the importance of baby-proofing when their children are young, and you need to keep safety in mind as your kids age. Keep medications and cleaning supplies in secure areas. Store unloaded guns in a safe and store ammunition in a separate, secure location. Teach older kids how to safely use appliances and knives. Remember, common sense home safety for you may not be so common to your kids if you don’t teach them about it.

It’s also important to teach kids the importance of keeping doors and windows locked at all times. One of the best ways to keep your kids and your home safe is to keep it locked. Check your door and window locks and make sure they are in working order. Purchase window locks that secure them when open.

Also, teach your kids to keep your garage doors down and to lock all entryway doors at all times. Of course, teach kids not to open the door to anyone other than a known family member or friend when you are not home.

4. Online Safety Tips

According to HomeAdvisor, “Today, parents have a lot more to worry about than fire hazards and strangers coming to the front door. Computers and TV can introduce a number of dangerous elements into the home.” Keeping older kids safe online is a priority for single parents, and hiring a computer professional to ensure your computer has advanced safeguards is one way to put your mind at ease.

It’s also imperative for you to talk to your kids about your expectations for their online behavior and to remind them that strangers lurk online more easily than they do in person. Teach them never to share their personal information, photographs of themselves, or other sensitive information with anyone online.

Teaching your kids to avoid dangerous situations is imperative to their safety. Model safe walking rules and stranger danger tips. Teach them about home safety and don’t assume they know common sense rules. Finally, ensure your kids know how to stay safe online.

“According to the American Thyroid Association approximately 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid cancer. It is important to discuss, because 60% of those with a thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. These hormones that are secreted by the thyroid (T3 & T4) into the blood are then carried throughout the body. The Thyroid controls the body’s metabolism, increases heart rate and affects how fast things move through the body such as food, bone loss and sugar. It is thought to be the most important endocrine organ!”.

Saint John’s Cancer Institute

“January is National Thyroid Awareness Month. According to the American Thyroid Association, 1 in 10 people suffer from a thyroid disorder. They also found that at least 1 in 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime.

Did you know, more than half of the people in America that suffer from a thyroid disorder are undiagnosed? Raising awareness about the thyroid is important because it plays a significant role in the human body.”

The Surgical Clinic (thesurgicalclinics.com)

“Some of the common causes of a closed head injury include

• Falls. This is the most common cause in adults age 65 and older.
• Motor vehicle crashes. This is the most common cause in young adults.
• Sports injuries
• Being struck by an object
• Child abuse. This is the most common cause in children under age 4.
• Blast injuries due to explosions”

MedlinePlus

“A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is an injury that affects how the brain works. It may be caused by a:

• Bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or
• Penetrating injury (such as from a gunshot) to the head

TBIs affect the lives of people of all ages.  There were about 61,000 TBI-related deaths in the United States in 2019.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC

“Staying fit and healthy — and helping prevent the need for physical therapy — can come in the form of many activities. Of course, in winter, that often can mean ice skating, hockey, skiing, and more.

Given these activities, January is recognized as National Winter Sports TBI Awareness Month — that’s Traumatic Brain Injury.

BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York offers some safety tips:

• “Wear a properly fitted helmet that is appropriate for the activity. Helmets can go a long way toward preventing or reducing the severity of a TBI.”
• “Set a no hits to the head or other dangerous play rule for hockey and other contact sports.”
• “Take lessons. If you’re going skating, skiing, or snowboarding, basic lessons will help you learn how to fall more safely and less often.”

PIVOT Physical Therapy