Rogers County Urges Parents To 'Take 25'

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

CLAREMORE, OK -- Tuesday was National Missing Children's Day.  Rogers County held a safety expo, "Take 25," to encourage parents to take 25 minutes each day to talk to their kids about safety.

Carrie Higgins brought her three children, Michael, Kevin, and Nicole to the expo because she's interested in anything that makes her kids safe.

She's especially concerned about them knowing how to be safe in Oklahoma's weather.

"The storms, the tornadoes," we're new to the area, we came from Alabama, and even though you get them there, it's different when you hear Oklahoma and tornadoes," Higgins said.

"Take 25" is held on National Missing and Exploited Children's Day to make people aware of what many call an epidemic. There are currently 51 Oklahoma children registered with the National Center. Many have been missing for decades. A moment of silence was observed for those children and their families.

That's why one of the booths at the fair took free digital pictures of children, with descriptions, something for parents to have on hand in case of an emergency.

Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins talked about the need to protect Oklahoma children.

"It doesn't do any good to set up booths, if parents don't care enough to bring their children to this event," Askins said.

Families also learned about drug safety, Internet safety, you name it. The goal is for parents to talk to their kids about safety each and every day.

"We usually, throughout the week, days, whatever, will kind of go through stuff," Higgins said.

Experts say the more educated families are about everyday dangers, the safer they will be.