Springtime and warmer weather means that Kennywood, Sandcastle and other fun outings will be in your family’s near future. Here are some tips to ensure your children are safe while out and about in the crowds.
- Reiterate the basic safety tips with your children: ask the adult you’re with for permission before going anywhere, always have a friend with you, say “NO” to anyone who tries to touch or hurt you and tell a trusted adult if anyone makes you feel unsure, scared or unhappy.
- Dress your children in bright colored clothes, and remember what they are wearing that day. Take a cell phone picture of your children in their outfits or have a recent picture of each of your children on you in case they get lost.
- Show your children examples of “trusted” adults, such as police, security officers and staff or employees they can go to for help if they get separated from you.
- If your children do not have a cell phone, consider loaning one to your oldest child, or give him or her their own cell phone so you can communicate faster. Save your cell phone number in the phone, and make sure your children also have your cell phone number memorized.
- Your children should not go to the bathroom alone. Accompany your younger children to the bathroom, and make sure your older children always go with a friend.
- If your children are older, find where all the information booths and customer service centers are located, and determine a time and place to meet.
For more information on child safety, visit kidsmartz.org, a program of the National Centers for Missing & Exploited Children.