Keeping our children safe

As soon as children can articulate a sentence, they can begin the process of learning about personal safety. Each child should be taught:

• His or her name and address and how to write them.
• His or her home telephone number (including
  area code) and how to dial it.
• How to use 911 or the emergency # in your Country.

Other things to teach your children...

If you are in a public place and become separated from your parent(s):

• Do not wander around looking for them.
• Quickly go to a trustworthy adult and tell the person that you have lost your parent(s) and need help in finding them. If you are in a building or other restricted access area (such as a store, shopping mall, or amusement park) go to a person at a checkout counter or a security officer.
• If in an unrestricted area (such as the street or a recreational park) go to a police officer, the entrance or reception area of a business where people are present, or a group of adults.

You should not get into a car or go anywhere with any person unless you have obtained permission from your parents or the adult responsible for you at that time.

If someone follows you on foot or in a car, run away to a safe place.

• A safe place is home, the home of a friend or neighbor, a store, etc; a place where there are people.
• A safe place is normally not a wooded area, a pile of leaves, an abandoned house, etc.

Children should learn to stay away from people in cars, vans or trucks.