MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – Saturday is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, serving as a reminder to make sure the public is doing its part to save lives.
Experts say human trafficking victims are often hidden in plainsight and difficult to spot. That’s why emergency responders are trained tolook for victims and how to intervene.
“In those cases, we want to try to give them a safeplace. Try to separate them from the trafficker, the handler with them, wherewe can ask them questions in a way that’s not accusatory. It gives them thefreedom to tell us what they need to tell us to make them safe,” said Dr. DaleCriner, St. Francis Bartlett ER Medical Director.
Doctors say signs of human trafficking include ayounger victim being accompanied by an older person who isn’t related. They saythe victim tends to avoid eye contact, won’t give reasons for their visit, andfrequently gives misleading information to avoid making the trafficker angry.