08/17/2019
Great Post from Dorchester County Sheriff's Office
Sgt. Rick Carson, Dorchester County Sheriff's OfficeAGENCY
Seven Safety Tips for the Kids
We promise, this will be our last long-winded post about school safety. But it is important! Let’s have a great school year.
1. Back to school pictures on social media: No school name, no teacher’s name, no school logo on uniforms or book bags, no school bus with identifying number, turn off location services for photos, phone, camera, or tablet. That info is encrypted in the photo and someone could determine your address or the school location.
2. Monogrammed articles: no names on backpacks, no names on lunch boxes. A predator looks for the easiest target. Nothing better than having your victim’s name. One way to overcome this is with a “family password” or teaching the kids about “stranger danger”.
3. Talk to them about bus safety: Never walk behind the bus, wait to board until the bus has stopped and door is open, stay seated on the bus until it is your turn to get off, when getting off wait until the bus stops and use all handrails available, make sure drawstrings and straps are secure, after exiting the bus if you must cross the street make sure the driver has given the thumbs up it is safe to do.
4. Bicycle safety: Wear a helmet, teach kids the proper hand signals, and lock your bike at school. If necessary, before school starts, have your child ride to school, lock the bike in the rack, unlock the bike from the rack, and return home safely. It would be awful for a young one to be stuck at school that first day. Practice makes perfect.
5. Important things for Latchkey Kids (showing my age) to know: Know the plan – what he/she is supposed to do until parents arrive home. Make sure the kids are completely capable of using their house keys or code combinations to gain entry. The key should be placed in its own compartment in the backpack and never removed at school. Finally, have a backup plan. Just in case that key is misplaced, or code is forgotten have a neighbor to back you up or another key hidden somewhere.
6. What to tell your kids about child abuse: Kids need to know inappropriate touching – anything a bathing suit covers – is not OK in any situation. Teach your kids not to be alone with an adult in a compromising situation. Studies show that kids who are more aware of the red flags and potential dangers are less likely to be a target for such occurrences.
7. Brush up on internet safety: “With great power comes great responsibility.” (The kids can tell you where that came from.) Never give out your name, address, or any other personal, identifying information online. If you see something that makes you feel uncomfortable tell an adult. Cyber bullying is never OK – or any bullying for that matter. Keep your accounts secure and only share passwords with parents or guardians.
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