How to keep kids and teens safe from predators
They must flee while they can.
With crimes, especially sexual crimes, against children forever on the increase, it is important to follow precautionary safety guidelines.
Here are a few guidelines and questions that could contribute to the safety of children on foot (or on a bicycle) against robbers, abductors and attackers:
? Who is walking behind me?
? Am I being followed ?
? Why are those people checking me out?
? Why is that vehicle driving so slowly near me?
? Why is that vehicle passing me for the second or third time in a row?
? That group of men make me feel uncomfortable – I must rather move away from them!
? Why is that person looking at me?
? Why would this unknown person want to start a conversation with ME?
? Why am I feeling uncomfortable with the situation I’m in?
? Is that ‘little voice’ or ‘feeling’ trying to tell me something?
? I must ALWAYS take the safest road and not the shortest one!
? I must NEVER take shortcuts through parks, vacant areas, back streets or allies!
? I must ALWAYS walk in a group of three or more and NEVER walk alone!
? Somebody must ALWAYS know which road I’m going to take and also my estimated time of arrival!
? I must ALWAYS let somebody know when I have arrived at my destination!
? I must ALWAYS let somebody know about my change of plans or when I deviate from my original route!
? I must memorise safe places on my route like a shop or filling station, where I can run to when in danger!
? Does my cellphone have enough airtime to phone in an emergency, and is the battery charged?
? Do I have all emergency numbers saved on my phone?
? Do I know my parents’ numbers by heart? (and also the neighbourhood watch/CPF/ police emergency numbers?)
? I MUST NOT show off or ‘advertise’ my i-Pod/ MP3/ cellphone/ money in public!
? ONLY use my cellphone in a safe place such as inside a shop!
? I must turn down the volume of my i-Pod/ MP/ player so that I can hear what’s going on at all times!
? I MUST NOT walk, ride or jog with headphones in my ears!
? If I’m attacked or abducted, I must yell at the top of my voice to get as much attention as possible from other people!
? The best and safest way of self-defence is still to FLEE when I get the chance!
? I must ALWAYS know what’s going on around me and be alert!
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