Gone are the days of warning your children about Stranger Danger and thinking you’ve covered all bases.
“Crime is a reality for South Africans and our children and teenagers are being affected. We need to empower them to know what to do in an emergency and how to protect themselves,” said Stuart Clarkson, managing executive of Fidelity ADT.
Whether you are at work for a full day or at home with your kids, they should know what to do in an emergency.
In light of Child Protection Week, (May 27 to June 2), Fidelity ADT Security offers the following safety tips for you to share with your children:
- Make sure your children memorise their full names, address and phone number.
- Using a play phone, teach children when and how to dial 10111.
- Put other emergency numbers on speed dial on your home phone and mobile. Teach your children how to operate the speed dial, explaining when it should be used.
- Always leave a phone number where you can be reached along with numbers for neighbours and emergency services right next to the phone.
- Make sure they realise the importance of speaking clearly and telling the emergency services exactly what is happening.
- Let your children practice operating door and window locks.
- Set a good example by locking doors and windows and checking to see who it is before opening a gate or door.
- Explain how important it is not to let anyone into the house without your permission.
- Teach them to not reveal on the phone or at the door that no adults are home but to rather say their parents are too busy to come to the phone or door.
- Rehearse the home fire escape plan with your children.
- Teach your children basic first aid such as putting pressure on a bleeding wound and what to do with minor burns.
- Show them how to press the panic button and explain when they should do so.
“The golden rule with children is to develop good security habits and to communicate regularly about safety,” said Clarkson.
Also read: 10 tips for making your home child friendly
Teach your child how to stay safe
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