Tips on how to keep your children safe this festive season

Parents and guardians are urged to ensure that they pay attention to the safety of their children this festive season.

Here are 5 ways you can do so…

1. Shopping centres are busy at this time of year. While you may be in a rush to complete your shopping, you must be vigilant at all times. If you take your children to a shopping centre, ensure you keep a close eye on them. Do not, under any circumstances, leave them in the vehicle.
2. If you are working this festive season, ensure that someone you trust is looking after your children. Leaving children, especially young ones, at home without supervision is risky.
3. Teach your children not to accept anything from, talk to or go anywhere with strangers. Inform them that, should they be approached by a stranger or feel unsafe around someone known to them, they should run away and scream to get the attention of people in the area. Also teach them never to go to secluded areas.
4. Ensure that your children know your name, their name and surname, as well as their address when they are of age. They should be informed that these details are not to be given to strangers, but instead to people of authority such as police officers or lifeguards for example. Teach children emergency numbers and what to do in emergency situations as well.
5. If you have a pool, ensure that it is covered with a pool net. Remember that all it takes is a few seconds for a child to wander off and fall into a pool. If you do not have a fence around the pool, it is a good idea to install one. The festive season is one of the busiest times of the year at the beach. Ensure that you or someone you trust is supervising your children at all times. Do not let them wander off.

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