Back to school safety tips
ADT urges parents to ensure their children are safety wise as they return to school.
IN less than a week, schools around the country re-open for the 2014 academic year and although children may be keen to return to see their friends it can be a time of anxiety for parents, especially those whose children have to travel to and from school by themselves.
Martin Kriel, managing director of ADT Security’s East Coast Region advises parents to take note of safety tips to keep their minds at ease.
“Children should always to walk to or from school with a friend or friends. They should stick to streets they know and never take short cuts through quiet areas or empty parking lots. If they get picked up at school, they should always wait inside the school grounds for their lift to arrive and they should not leave the premises to go and look for their lift in the street,” he said.
He urged children never to get into a stranger’s car even if they claim that someone they love is hurt and that they are supposed to pick them up. They should remember parents would never send someone they don’t know to fetch them.
“If a stranger approaches your child they must not talk to them no matter how friendly they may seem. If someone tries to grab your child, they should fight, kick and scream that they are not their mom or dad,” he said.
Kriel said for some families a tight budget may mean that a domestic helper or au pair is not an option. In some cases children have to see themselves to and from school and keep occupied until mom and dad return home in the evening.
“It is very important that children know how the alarm system and panic buttons work and when and how to use them. Also make a list of important telephone numbers such as the emergency services and mom and dad’s work and cellphone numbers. Stick it on or near the telephone and explain when these should be used. Emphasise how important it is not to let anyone into the house without your permission. If you are going to be late let your children know as soon as possible and give them an idea of when they can expect you to be home,” he said.
Kriel urged parents to share these tips with their children and encourage them to use them every day.
