Spring Safety Check - Family Safety Review
Spring has arrived Spring has arrived bringing warmer weather and longer days for children to play outside. Take Action: This is a good time to conduct a family safety review with your kids. Here is a checklist of key safety practices to help you. 1. For kids to know: *Your name, your parents' names, address, and telephone number. *Check first. If any older person offers you something or invites you somewhere, ask mom or dad first. *Hang with a friend. Kids are safer in groups. *It’s not your fault if someone hurts you or tricks you. Be sure to tell a trusted adult—it’s not tattling. *If home alone, keep doors and windows locked. Don’t let anyone in, not even a policeman, without checking first with a parent. Kids should yell “NO”, run away, and get help from a parent or other trusted adult if ANY adult breaks any of these rules: *Adults should not ask kids for help. *Adults should not offer anything to a kid. *Adults should not ask kids to keep secrets. *No one should touch a kid’s private parts (parts covered by a swimsuit) or ask a kid to touch their own or another’s private parts. 2. How kids can get help: *Find a safe adult like a mom with kids or a cashier, ask for help, then stay there and wait, don’t go looking for mom or dad. *If you feel threatened yell, “NO! You’re not my mom (or dad)!” Run away and get help. *Break the rules if you’re in danger. Yell, run, drop your books, and even knock over boxes in a store to get attention. *It’s okay to call 9-1-1 if you need help right away. 3. For parents: *Say “I love you.” *Assure your children that should they ever become separated from you, you will always look for them. *Respect kids’ instincts. If they feel weird about something, there is probably a reason. Help them figure out what to do. *Teaching safety is an on-going process, but it doesn’t have to be scary. *Expect to return to the topic all the way through the teen years. 2006 Polly Klaas® Foundation, P.O. Box 800, Petaluma, CA 94953 E-mail: info@pollyklaas.org ~ Phone: (707) 769-1334 ~ 24 hour hotline: (800) 587-4357