7 home safety tips for children these holidays

With after-care not available during the festive season, parents are urged to find ways to keep their children safe.

Unlike the 1990 Box Office classic Home Alone, children left alone will not be able to simply fend for themselves and fight off burglars.

While parents work and carers are away for the holidays, children staying at home must be kept as safe as possible in the event of a burglary, fire or medical emergency.

“If children are entirely alone at home, parents must cover all possible scenarios and have some form of all-day security monitoring to make sure they stay safe,” says Fidelity ADT’s group head of marketing and communications, Charnel Hattingh.

People who are fortunate to have their helpers throughout the festive season must ensure everyone is on the same page regarding child safety, and parents should invest in first aid training for caregivers.

Where children are left alone, Hattingh said, “One of the most important things to reiterate is not opening the gate for strangers, no matter who they say they are.

“If your child is going to have food or anything else delivered, bear in mind these delivery bikers are often targeted by criminals. A gate opening to accept the delivery is just the gap criminals need to get onto your property.”

Households can implement proper access control systems that allow them to see who is at the gate to monitor everything while they are not at home.

“Another big factor regarding children’s safety at home is swimming pools, with drowning a leading cause of accidental death in young children.

“We should teach young children that water can be dangerous, just like cars. Tell them not to go near the water without a grown-up, just like you don’t cross the street without a grown-up. It is dangerous. You should regularly reinforce this message the way you do all other household rules,” concluded Hattingh.

7 safety tips to share with your children:

• Be alert and avoid walking on the street or in the mall with your phone out, and never with headphones on
•     Always go out in groups (parents must provide a secure and trustworthy means of transport for their children)
•     Avoid strangers, whether male or female – trust nobody!
•     Security gates must be locked at home at all times and the key removed
•     mergency contacts must be on speed dial
•     Communicate with parents when you see a suspicious vehicle or people on your street
•     Know how to arm home security to ensure safety

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