A child can be taught safety rules
at a very young age. Follow these
tips to help protect your children --
and to teach them how to protect
themselves.
� Never leave a small child
alone in a grocery cart or car --
even for a minute.
� Be sure your child's day-care
center or school will not
release the youngster to
anyone but you or someone
you designate. Instruct the
school or center to call you immediately
if your child is absent.
Also have them call you
at your listed number to verify
that someone else will be picking
up your child.
� Warn children never to go
anywhere with anyone -- even
a friend -- without your permission.
� Teach them to avoid walking
or playing alone.
� Have the child tell you when
any adult asks him or her to
keep a "secret," asks too
many questions, wants to give
a gift or takes their picture.
Encourage them to tell you
about any unusual occurrances
or uncomfortable situations
that take place when you
are apart.
� Teach children to call out or to
flee from anyone who bothers
them.
� Establish a code word known
only to you and the child,
changing the word once it has
been used. Instruct your child
never to go with any adult
who does not give that code
word.
� Are you able to describe the
clothing your child is wearing
at all times? Take notice.
� Keep your child's fingerprints,
current photographs, dental
and medical records in a safe,
easily accessible place.
� Teach your child how to get
home by recognizing
landmarks in your neighborhood.
� Should your child become
separated from you, have a
set plan of what the child
should do to find you.
� If your child arrives
home
alone after
school, have
them contact
you, a designated
neighbor
or a relative
when they get
there.
� They should never enter the
house if a door is open or a
window is broken.
� Whenever possible, keep
doors and windows locked
day and night. If windows are
opened for ventilation, make
sure the screens are secured.
Teach your children how to
use all locking mechanisms.
� Demonstrate and practice
how they would get out of the
house quickly in case of a fire.
� Warn youngsters not to give
out personal information to a
stranger on the telephone, or
say that they are home alone.
� Tell them not to answer the
door when they are alone.
Call a neighbor or police immediately
if someone tries to
get into the house.
� Teach a young child his or her
full name, address (including
city and state) and phone
number (including area code).
Show them how to place a
long distance call (both directly
to you and by dialing "0" for
the Operator).
� Be sure your child knows
where you will be and how to
reach you when you are
apart. They can
relay messages
to you when
you're out of the
house. By your
returning the
call, you can
give the impression
that you
are home.
� Ask a neighbor
to check on
children periodically if left
home alone for any length of
time.
� Let your children know if you
are not going to be home on
time.
� Teach your children, as early
as they can understand,
about 911 and how it is used.
Demonstrate and have them
practice -- using an unplugged
phone.
� Instruct them never to go into
any house but their own
without your permission.
Call your local Los Angeles Security
branch office or 800-654-7797 for
a free child fingerprinting kit.