Safety Tips
GENERAL TIPS FOR SAFEGUARDING YOUR CHILD
Avoid scare tactics when discussing personal safety. Reassure your child that most people are kind and
safe. Those who are not are the exception.
Instill within your child a sense of self-worth at every opportunity.
Teach your child basic sex education, i.e. the areas of the body covered by a bathing suit are private.
Establish that sexual abuse is a crime. This gives children the confidence to assert themselves with those
who try to abuse them.
Allow children to express affection on their own terms. Do not instruct them to "Give Uncle Jimmy a kiss" or
"Give Aunt Susan a hug."
Stress that there should be no secrets from you, especially those involving an adult.
Develop strong communication skills with your children. Explain the importance of reporting abuse to you
or another trusted adult.
Make a commitment to spend quality time with your child. Lonely and attention-starved youngsters are most
vulnerable to abuse.
Make it a priority to get to know your child's friends and their families.
Encourage involvement in extracurricular activities. Youngsters with many interests are less likely to
become involved with drugs or other negative influences.
Volunteer to chaperone activities like Boy Scouts and sporting events, especially those involving overnight
trips.
Do not rely on "The Buddy System." While it may make children (and parents) feel safer, its effectiveness is
questionable. In many instances, sisters, brothers and playmates have been victims of terrible crimes
when together.
Instruct children never to go with or get in a car with anyone, unless you have given them direct permission.
Stress the importance of reporting rumors or threats of violence, including bomb threats and weapon
possession by schoolmates. Reinforce that reporting can be done anonymously, but that school officials
must be told for the safety of everyone.
Above all, encourage children to recognize, trust and follow their instincts - and listen to your own instincts.
If a situation or person makes you or your child uneasy, believe in your feelings and act on them.
TRAFFIC SAFETY
Teach your children to stay on the sidewalk and crosswalks. Avoid walking in traffic where there are no
sidewalks or crosswalks.
Train your children that if they have to walk on a road that does not have sidewalks, walk facing traffic. When
crossing a street teach your children to look left, right, and left for traffic. Remind your children that it is safer
to cross with a traffic light if at all possible.
Teach your child to obey all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard -- never cross the street against a light
even if they think it is safe to do so.
BICYCLE SAFETY
Don't allow young children to ride their bike at night,and remember to teach them to walk their bikes through
the intersections.
Make sure your child wears a safety helmet when riding their bicycle.
If they must be out when it's dark, have your children wear reflective material...it makes them more visible to
street traffic.
Teach your children to ride their bicycles on the sidewalk or paths.
Make sure your child's bicycle is properly maintained so that it is safe.
VEHICLE SAFETY
Insist that your children 'buckle up' when riding in a car.
Instruct your children not to 'horseplay' in the car, or hang out the window while the car is in motion.
Never allow children to play around parked cars.
Make sure your children use the proper size car seats, and never place them in the front seat of a
vehicle or place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag.
Never leave your children unattended in a car, even for a short time. Children can suffer heat stroke or
possibly die in a matter of minutes.
Supervise young children around buckets of water while washing your car. Small children can drown in
seconds in less than an inch of water.
Never leave young children unattended in the car at a gas station while you are filling up. Remove
the keys to the ignition as they may get curious and touch a control, which could be dangerous for them.
Always look for children before backing your motor vehicle out of a garage or driveway.
To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, never let a car idle in the garage.
Never allow a child to walk behind a vehicle. The driver may not see them.
SWIMMING SAFETY
Teach your children to swim as early as possible. Never leave children unattended near a swimming pool.
Learn CPR and do not rely on flotation devices.
Keep radios and other products with electrical cords away from the pool.
Clean the pool regularly.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Teach your child never to go near a downed wire.
Never allow children to climb trees where power lines are near.
Teach children not to use water around electrical wires.
Instruct your children never to fly kites near telephone wires.
SKATEBOARDS/IN-LINE SKATES SAFETY
Provide the necessary safety equipment for your children: helmet, elbow pads, and kneepads.
Instruct your children to skate on the right side of the street and to obey all traffic regulations.
Teach your children to be courteous to other skaters, and pass with caution. Don't skate where crowds are
gathered.
Teach your children to properly maintain their gear.
