Summer Safety Tips for Children

SAFETY STEPS FOR CHILDREN

When talking to kids about being at home alone, parents should stress the following steps and post them somewhere to remind the child about what they should, or shouldn’t, do until mom or dad get home:

• Lock the doors and if the home has an electronic security system, children should learn how to turn it on and have it on when home alone.

• Never open the door to strangers. Always check before opening the door to anyone, looking out through a peephole or window first.

• Never open the door to delivery people or service representatives. Ask delivery people to leave the package at the door or tell them to come back at another time. Service representatives, such as a TV cable installer, should have an appointment when an adult is home.

• Never tell someone on the telephone that the parents are not at home. Say something like “He or she is busy right now. Can I take a message?”

• Do not talk about being home alone on social media web sites. Kids should be cautious about sharing information about their location when using chat rooms or posting on social networks.

• Never leave the house without permission. If it’s okay to go outside, children should tell their parents where they are going, when they are leaving, and when they will return. If mom and dad are still at work, children should call them when they return home.

• Do not go outside to check out an unusual noise. If the noise worries the child, they should call their parents, an adult, or the police.

• Don’t talk to strangers.

• Do not have friends over to visit when your parents aren’t at home unless you have permission to do so. Do not let anyone inside who is using drugs or alcohol, even if you know them.

• If the child smells smoke or hears a fire or smoke alarm, they should get outside and ask a neighbor to call the fire department.

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