Latchkey Kids Safety Tips

School is out for the Summer! With that in mind, some children in Troup County will be staying at home alone while their parents are away, at work. Home safety preparations should already be in place for times when the entire family is at home together. However, Sheriff Donny Turner reminds you that danger has no clock or calendar! An emergency can occur at any time. Most often, it will happen when we are most vulnerable.

Children become vulnerable whenever the attention of a parent’s watchful eye is diverted; or, periodically, whenever the parent must leave their child to tend to other important activities for any length of time. Whether your child is a block away, on the other side of town or, even, in the next room… There are some safety procedures that you should communicate with your child before you leave him/her at home alone:

Ø  Make sure your child memorizes "911"!

Ø  Your child should also memorize your home address and phone number.

Ø  Prepare your child to give emergency responders their full name, your full name and the full names of all siblings who are also at home during the day in the event of an emergency.

Ø  Have an emergency contact phone list posted in a common area of your home with up-to-date information. You may also be able to program an “I.C.E.” (In Case of Emergency) list into your child’s cellphone.

Ø  Keep an emergency first-aid kit stocked-up and ready to use, if necessary. Make sure your child is familiar with how to use it.

Ø  Go over basic first-aid procedures with him/her.

Ø  Practice severe weather safety drills and fire evacuation safety drills with the entire family.

Ø  Limit the kind of cooking that should take place when a responsible adult is not present.

Ø  Teach your child to never open the door to a stranger.

Ø  Keep all doors and windows locked while you are away.

Ø  Instruct your child to stay inside the home while you are away, unless an emergency situation forces them to leave.

Ø  Tell your child that they are not to have any friends there, at home, until you return.

Ø  Use caller ID; and, never tell anyone that is not a trusted adult that they are at home alone.

Ø  It is best to keep them off the computer when you are not able to monitor their usage. If they must go online for any reason, make sure they use your established internet safety rules. Teach them not to update their "status" with information that would make them vulnerable to an internet predator.

Ø  If your child is forced to evacuate the home, establish a "Safe House" or trusted neighbor that they may retreat to.

Ø  Check frequently on your child. Let them know if you will be running late.

This list is, by no means, an all-inclusive check sheet that will cover every unsafe situation. It is, however, a series of guidelines that will allow you to sit down with your family and come to a comprehensive conclusion of safety steps to best fit into your family’s home emergency plans. Sheriff Donny Turner wishes you and yours a SAFE and happy Summer 2012!