Child and Campus Safety Tips

A personal alarm can be an excellent safety tool for small children. Write your child's name, your name and contact information on the back of the alarm. If your child is ever in trouble they can drop the alarm or have emergency contact information readily available. This may also provide a lead for police if your child is ever abducted.

Children need to be taught common ruses that strangers use to lure children.

Know where all of the emergency blue lights are on your college campus. Don't hesitate to call for help if you are being followed or feel threatened.

Back to school time is already upon us. It's been a very long and hot summer and with students heading back to classes there may be times when children and young adults are on their own. Younger children will be waiting at the bus stop, walking home from school, or even staying at home alone. College students will also be heading back to universities and for many this will be the first year being away from home. All of these conditions may cause parents or guardians to worry and have a higher level of stress. However, there are some things students can do to keep themselves safe from crime.

Protecting Our Children

When children get to be the age when they are allowed to commute on their own to and from school there is a new found sense of freedom children experience. With this freedom there may also be some risks and it's important that we sit down and talk to our children about stranger danger and personal safety without scaring them. There is a right way to go about it and a wrong way. Children are often fast learners and they see this talk as a way to help mom and dad as well as to assure their parent's that they are capable of taking care of themselves. Sit down with your children and go over the following personal safety tips.

Teach Your Children to be Aware

Being aware of one's surroundings is just as important for children as it is adults. Children need to be taught to be aware and how to respond if someone they don't know approaches them. Children should be reminded to stay in a public place and to avoid shortcuts and secluded less traveled paths. Stick to public streets with lots of people and discuss SAFE PLACES your child may go if they need help when out on their own. These places can include department stores, fast food places, populated gas stations, banks, fire stations and post offices. Pretty much any populated business that's open to the public can be a good place for a child to go if they need help.

• A cell phone is also a great investment for children. There are special cell phones on the market that only call a few pre programmed numbers including emergency services. Make sure your child keeps this phone on their person at all times. Leaving a cell phone in a backpack or jacket is not helpful because the child may become detached from these items.

• Teach your children how to dial 911 for help. How to dial 911 is a skill children can be taught at a very young age. In fact, children as young as 2 have dialed 911 for help and saved a life. Your children must also know how to reach you and where you work.

• Your children should also be taught how to use your alarm system and how to lock your doors. You must emphasize that these safety devices must be used at all times and they are NEVER TO OPEN THE DOOR TO A STRANGER! EVER!

• When your children reach a mature age and you feel comfortable doing so, you may wish to provide them with a SABRE Self Defense Spray. Make sure you reiterate that the SABRE causes tremendous pain and is not a toy.

• Teach your children that they are never to go into any person's home that you don't know. Children must also be taught to never allow anyone to touch them in areas that are covered by a bathing suit. You need to also advise your children that it's ok to tell someone no when they do something that makes them feel uncomfortable.

• You must also tell your children that they can talk to you about anything that is bothering them and reiterate that you are always open to any discussions with them.

• ANY AND ALL FIREARMS MUST BE SECURED IN YOUR HOME! NO EXCEPTIONS! There are special bio metric gun safes such as The Gun Vault that can secure your gun and only allow you access to your firearms. NEVER LEAVE A LOADED GUN UNATTENDED! NEVER! It is your responsibility to keep firearms and dangerous items out of the reach and secured from children and irresponsible adults.

Children must be taught that they must never get into a vehicle with anyone. ABSOLUTELY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY YOUR CHILD GET INTO THE CAR OF SOMEONE EXCEPT YOU OR AUTHORIZED CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS. Children must always be taught about the ploys that predators often use to try and lure children. Child predators will often use the following ploys:

• A request to find a lost puppy or kitten.
• The use of candy, toys and other gifts.
• Offering a ride home, to a store or to a fun place such as a park.
• Offering to take the child to a movie or game store.
• They may offer a child to play with an animal such as a kitten or puppy that is out of view such as in the backseat of a car.
• Stating that the child's mother or father has sent them to pick up the child.
• Stating that the child's mother or family members have been involved in an accident and they are there to take them to the hospital to see their parents.
• Stating that the stranger is lost and requesting the child's help to show them how to get to their destination.

Teach your children that if a stranger tries to use any of the ruses listed above to run in the opposite direction and scream fire or loudly to attract attention. Children must also be taught that strangers will often whisper to get the child to come closer to the vehicle.

• Encourage your children to play in groups and to stick together when walking alone.

• Never leave your children unattended when in public. Always make sure they are with you at all times and don't let them out of your sight.

• Never allow your children to use a public restroom alone. Always go with your children when using any public restroom.

• Be sure to monitor your child's Internet activity and make sure all computers are in a public room so you can monitor their Internet and computer activity. You can lock your computer and use Net Nanny Software to prevent your children from accessing unauthorized websites.

PROTECTING COLLEGE STUDENTS

Many of the safety rules talked about for children are applicable to college students. College students must pay extra attention to their personal safety. This is especially important to freshman who are new to campus and who may be targeted by upperclassmen.

• When staying in a college dormitory or apartment, know who your roommates are. Also make it clear about who you think should be allowed to come over to your home and who shouldn't be allowed to be in your building.

• Do not go out alone at night when on campus. Always travel with friends and stick with groups of students.

• Know where all of the EMERGENCY Blue Lights are located on campus and have the number to your campus police department programmed into your phone.

• Almost all campuses allow the carrying of Pepper Spray. Carry your SABRE Pepper Spray in your hand when in any potentially dangerous situation. This can be walking alone, jogging, using parking garages, parking lots, elevators etc. You should also keep a SABRE HM-80 home unit in your dorm room next to your bed. SABRE is available in a special Home and Away Protection kit that combines a HC-14 Key Chain unit with a HM-80 Home Unit for complete protection while on campus.

http://www.sabrered.com/servlet/the-147/SABREHomeAway-PepperSpray-ProtectionKit-Advanced/Detail

• Be extremely cautious when going to any party. Make sure you keep an eye on your drink and never ever except a drink from someone. Never leave your drink unattended.

• Do not allow yourself to become intoxicated. This will drastically lower your awareness level and make you much more vulnerable.

• Ask to see your campuses annual crime report. Pay attention to the type of crime son campus and be alert to any type of emergency alerts or postings by campus police.

• Be extra vigilant when using laundry facilities on or off campus. Stay aware of your surroundings and always have your defense spray with you and on your keys.

The purpose of this article is to help you better educate your children and young adults on how to protect themselves from crime. Remember that by discussing these important topics with your children you are teaching them something that can actually help them and may save their life. In fact, many schools now have special child lures programs that are taught to young children. College students are no exception to the rule. Young adults must also be taught the importance of personal safety and to stay alert.