Know the Rules...Summer
Safety Tips to Teach Children
- Always CHECK FIRST with your parents, guardians,
or the trusted adult in charge before you go anywhere or do anything.
Be sure to CHECK IN regularly with your parents, guardians, or a trusted
adult when you’re not with them.
- Always TAKE A FRIEND with you when playing or going
anywhere. It’s safer and more fun.
- Don’t be tricked by people who offer you special treats or
gifts. Never accept anything from anyone without your parents’
or guardians’ permission.
- Stay SAFER when you’re home alone by keeping
the door locked; not opening the door for or talking to anyone who
stops by unless the person is a trusted family friend or relative,
you feel comfortable being alone with that person, and the visit has
been preapproved by your parents or guardians; and never telling anyone
who calls that you’re home by yourself. If your parent or guardian
can not be reached, have a neighbor or other trusted adult you are
able to call if you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused or there’s
an emergency.
- Never go into a public restroom by yourself.
- Never go alone to malls, movies, parks, or video arcades.
Take a friend with you, and always CHECK FIRST with
your parents or guardians to make sure it’s okay.
- Don’t panic if you feel lost. Identify the safest place to
go or person to ask for help in reuniting you with your parents or guardians.
Safe helpers could be a uniformed law-enforcement or security officer,
store salesperson with a nametag, person with a nametag who is working
at the information booth, or mother with children. Never search for
your parents or guardians on your own, and never go with anyone who
is trying to reunite you with them.
- Be careful when you play. Stay away from pools, canals, and other
bodies of water unless you are with a trusted adult. Don’t play
near busy streets or deserted areas, and never take shortcuts unless
you have your parents’ or guardians’ permission.
- Don’t wear clothes or carry items with your name on the outside,
and don’t be confused just because a person you don’t know
calls out your name.
- Don’t get into a vehicle or go near a vehicle with anyone in
it unless you are with your parents, guardians, or a trusted adult.
Never take a ride from anyone without CHECKING FIRST
with your parents or guardians.
- Be careful playing or riding your bicycle as it gets dark. Sometimes
it is difficult for people driving to see you. Wear reflectors and
protective clothing if your parents or guardians say you may play
outside after dark.
- Don’t be afraid to say NO and GET
AWAY from any situation making you feel scared, uncomfortable,
or confused. TRUST YOUR FEELINGS, and be sure
to TELL
a trusted adult if anything happens to make you feel this way. And,
it's never too late to tell a trusted adult what happened.
Copyright © 1993, 2005, and 2009
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved.
This project was supported by Grant No. 2007-MC-CX-K001 awarded by the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice
Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions in
this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® and 1-800-THE-LOST®
are registered service marks of the National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children. NCMEC Order #82. |
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