Domestic Watch meeting: Put safety first

Linda Goodenough from ADT/Fidelity gave the ladies who attended the Domestic Watch meeting on February 19 some practical tips on staying safe.

What do you do in a medical emergency?

First of all call emergency services.

When a person is bleeding the first thing to do is get them to rest. Raise the injured limb above the heart in order to slow down the bleeding.

Apply pressure to the injury. Protect yourself by wearing gloves. Use CPR to keep the person alive and do not stop until professional medics have arrived.

Self-defence

Know the vulnerable spots of a perpetrator. If you have to hurt them make deep impact on the first time and then run and get yourself to safety.

These include the eyes, nose, neck, chest, groin and knees.

What if?

If you cannot protect yourself allow the perpetrator to take what they want, and do not fight them, unless when it comes to you.

Never go outside should you suspect something is going wrong, rather call your local security company.

Avoid being a target

Do not go to the shops with all your children in tow, a cellphone in your back pocket or an open handbag. Criminals often look for the vulnerable.

Prioritise

Children need to know that their parents are listening to them. As a parent, you need to set an example.

If you do not give your children the attention they need they will look for it elsewhere.

Teach your child road safety

Teach your children how to cross the street. What we teach them from a young age is what they will know and do when they are older. Do not forget about these basic steps.

Public transport

Ride to school with them and make sure that the transport is safe.

Make sure your children make use of a buddy system, so they are never alone.

Tell your children that they can phone you no matter what, no matter where they are, day or night.

Do not let your children use electronic equipment during the duration of the ride, as this could make them a potential target for theft.

Water danger

Children should never swim without adult supervision. Should your child be in a pool, drowning, and you are not able to swim yourself, do not get into the water. Rather use a pool net to drag them closer.

If the child is alive put him or her on their side. Should the child be unconscious perform CPR.

Bullying

Children with good self-esteem are harder to bully. It is pertinent to teach your children to be strong and stand up for themselves. Make sure that you are available for your child to speak to you.

Playdates

Make sure you know where your children are going, meet the parents and get to know them before you place your children in their care.

Put certain rules in place and make sure your children can reach you at all times.

Trust your instinct

Teach your children to trust their instincts, especially when it comes to touching.

A simple way to teach your child this is to dress them in a swimming costume and tell them that all the parts of their body that are unexposed should never be touched by anyone.

The ladies ended the informative morning with delicious tea and cake and each took a heart-shaped lollipop home as a reminder to always take precaution and be safe.