Back to school - keep your kids safe this year

South Africa – With schools across the country officially opening on Wednesday 15 January for the 2020 academic year, the excitement is looming large among learners who look forward to new friends and new experiences. Parents and caregivers might be feeling some dread, especially those who are worried about the safety of their children while they make their way to school and back.

“There are basic tips that we believe parents can follow, to make a difference in the safety of their children and to give everyone peace of mind. It boils down to making sure your children know exactly how to avoid possible danger, and what they must do in case something bad happens to them,” says Fidelity ADT national marketing and communications manager Charnel Hattingh. 
She recommends that you teach children the following rules to keep them safe:

• Children must always walk to or from school with a friend or in a group. If your child walks alone, it’s a good idea to ask a teacher or other parents if they know of more children from the area who do the same. Some towns have started ‘walking buses’, where local parents volunteer to walk to and from school with a group of school children to assure their safety.
• They should stick to streets they know and never take short cuts through unfamiliar or quiet areas.
• If learners get picked up at school, they should always wait inside the grounds for their caregivers to arrive. They should never leave the premises to look for them in the street.
• Remind children that their parents would never send someone they don’t know to fetch them, and they should never get into a stranger’s car even if they claim that someone they love is hurt and that they are supposed to pick them up. It is a good idea to consider using a password system, to ensure that the person collecting them is, in fact, a friend of their parents or someone they can trust.
• If a stranger approaches them, do not talk to them no matter how friendly they may seem. If someone tries to grab them, fight, kick and scream that they are not your mom or dad.
• In some cases, children must see themselves to and from school and keep occupied until their parents return home in the evening.

“It is extremely important that children know not to let anyone into the house without your permission. If you are going to be late, let your children know as soon as possible and give them an idea of when they can expect you to be home,” Hattingh advised.

She suggested drawing up a list of important telephone numbers.

“This list must include emergency services and mom and dad’s work and cell phone numbers. Save it on your child’s cell phone and stick it on or near the landline. It’s also important to explain to them when these should be used,” she said.

Hattingh added that everyone in the household should also know how to use your home security system – children included – and when and how to use the panic buttons. She adds that her company has employed special trainers across the country, to offer personal safety training classes at schools.

Fidelity ADT press release dated 13 January