The Din-Al-View CPF has issued the following safety tips for children who are enjoying their school holiday.
“Crime won’t stop just because of the holidays.
“You need to be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times and not be distracted,” said Jane Dijkman, public relations officer for the Din-Al-View CPF.
Safety tips to keep in mind:
- Keep your cellphone and personal belongings out of sight in a bag or preferably in a pocket which closes.
- Tell an adult your destination and who your companions are before you go anywhere, as well as what activities you have planned.
- Use the “buddy system” whenever possible.
- Always take a friend with you when you are going places or playing outside.
- When at home, do not answer your front door to any stranger.
- If you are alone, phone one of your parents or any other adult that you know and tell them what is happening.
- Report anything suspicious on the CPF Whatsapp group or CPF radio.
- Do not give any personal information such as your name, address, phone number etc to a stranger, even if they appear to know you.
- If you are out at the mall or another public place and someone enters your personal space, tell them loudly to move away.
- If someone tries to hurt you, scream, kick, fight, and even bite the person. Make as much noise as you can to attract the attention of the people around you, so that they will come and help you.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times and pay attention to what is happening around you.
- Look and see what the people around you are doing.
“This is not so easy to do as you are with your friends and you are all excited, talking and laughing together and enjoying yourselves, and having a very good time, but it is vital,” said Dijkman.
“If you have to go out on your own anywhere, it is safer to stay around other people than to be on your own if assistance is required.”
- Don’t accept lifts from strangers.
Only get into someone’s car if you know the person very well.
- If you are walking and a car stops alongside you, move away in the opposite direction.
“Parents — have your contact numbers, as well as other emergency numbers like the police, the doctor etc, written on a large piece of paper and put up next to the phone in the house, or any other place that you know your child will find it.
“Most children today have cellphones, even if the numbers are on their phones, still put the emergency numbers on the fridge door or somewhere where your child knows where to find them.
“When you are in a panic you can easily forget that you have the numbers.
“If they are displayed somewhere the child or your domestic worker can then just call the number without having to look for it.
“Inform and equip your domestic workers about what to do in case of an emergency.
“Give her all the emergency contact numbers so that if anything happens at home she will know who to contact, and what to do,” Dijkman said.
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