Explain to your children that a stranger is someone they don't know well. A stranger can be a man or woman, well dressed or shabby, kind or threatening, pretty or ugly. If a stranger tries to follow them or grab them, they should run away, scream, and make lots of noise. Tell them to run to the nearest place where there are people and shout "This person is trying to hurt me!" or "Stay away from me", instead of a simple "Help." SEXUAL ABUSE It's an unpleasant fact that the latest statistics from British Columbia's Ministry of Social Services and Housing state approximately 6,000 children were reported as victims of abuse. Most are girls, but boy's can be victims. It's especially difficult to detect sexual abuse and help the victims because the abuser is often a parent, a relative, a baby-sitter or a close family friend. Children may not recognize sexual abuse when it happens or even know it's wrong. Talk to your children about touches that are appropriate and ones that make them feel uneasy. Stress that they can always talk to you when someone's been touching them in a bad way. Children rarely lie about the victims of sexual abuse, but some may be too confused or frightened to talk directly about it. Be alert for physical and behavioral changes that might signal sexual abuse. Some physical signs are bedwetting, loss of appetite, nightmares, venereal disease, and complaints of pain or irritation around the genital area. Behavioral symptoms may include refusing to go to school or to be alone, increased anxiety or immature behavior, artwork that depicts strange sexual overtones, and a change in attitude toward a relative, neighbor, or a baby-sitter. If your child has been sexually abused, you must report it to the police or call the Help Line for Children by dialing the operator and asking for Zenith 1234. You may save other children from being harmed. Seek counseling for your child welfare or sexual abuse treatment program.