Teach your child how to react in a crisis

The pupil was walking home with a friend after school when the occupant of a passing car tried to rob him of his cell phone.

The boy resisted and clung onto the assailant’s car and was dragged along the road.

Fortunately the boy was found by some concerned citizens and taken to the nearest hospital.

Clive Humphrey, Managing Director of ADT Central, says ADT has in the recent months recorded several incidents of strangers approaching children or domestic workers in the street and asking to use their cell phones, and then driving off with the phone.

“While parents do share safety tips with their children, they don’t necessarily advise them on what to do if they find themselves in an actual crisis.

“The same rules that apply to adults need to be instilled in children,” says Humphrey.

He offers these tips for children in the event of being confronted by criminals:

* The first and golden rule is to not antagonise the assailant who is probably more scared than you are.

You need to show them you are not a threat.

Unless your child feels they are facing an imminent life-and-death situation, they should not fight back and readily give over any material possessions.

* They should never try and engage in conversation.

They should speak only if spoken to and then try to keep their answers short and to the point.

*Encourage your children to try and get a good look at the assailant and memorise their physical details and clothing, as well as the vehicle they’re in.

Listen for any names or other details that might help identify them later.

* Remind your children to try and remain calm and quiet if not threatened so the assailant can get what he or she wants and move off.

Humphrey says these simple actions can often keep a child safe and also reminded parents to constantly reinforce general safety tips for children.

* They must always walk to or from school with a friend or friends. Stick to streets they know and never take short cuts through quiet areas or empty parking lots and never walk with cell phones and ipads in full view.

* If they get picked up at school, they should never leave the premises but always wait inside the school grounds for their lift to arrive.

* They must never get into a stranger’s car; even if the stranger claims that someone they love is hurt and that they have been sent to pick them up.

Remind them that you would never send someone they don’t know to fetch them.

* If a stranger approaches them, they should not talk to them no matter how friendly they may seem.

If someone tries to grab them, they need to fight, kick and shout out that the person is not their mom or dad.