Travel and Tips Safety

Child Safety Tips 

• Make sure your child learns his or her address and phone number at an early age. A second phone number of a friend or relative is also helpful.
• Teach your child how to call 911 in case of an emergency.
• Do not leave a child unattended while shopping, visiting with neighbors or friends, or running errands. Under no circumstances should you leave a child alone in a vehicle.
• When home alone, children should never open the door for strangers.
• On the telephone, your child should never let anyone know they are home alone. Discuss responses such as : "Mom / Dad is busy right now."
• A child should never leave school or daycare with anyone except a parent or guardian. You and your child should have a password in case you send someone else to pick them up.
• When shopping or in a crowd, children should be taught who to go to if separated from you. (Cashier, clerk, security officer, etc.) The child should never leave the store looking for you.
• Make sure your child knows to scream and run if approached in an alarming way by anyone.
• Your child should know to make you aware anytime he or she feels uncomfortable with anyone.
• Get to know the internet and the sites your child visits. Teach your child to never give out personal information online. Your child should never arrange a meeting with anyone he or she meets online.
• Make sure your child always checks with you before going anywhere with anyone. Have them inform you of where they are going, whom they are going with, and when they will be home.
• Keep a record of your child's personal and medical information on hand in case of an emergency. Always include a recent photograph.
• Remember to teach children that police officers are their friends and that we are there to help them.

Travel Tips  

• When you travel, please watch for other drivers.
• If you must use your cell phone while driving, please find a safe and legal area to pull into while doing so.
• When it begins to rain, slow down and come to safe stops. Rain brings road oils to the surface, creating slicker than normal conditions that inhibit your ability to stop.
• Be courteous and avoid road rage.
• Leave with plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
• During the holidays, there will also be officers on bicycles patrolling shopping center parking lots and inside the malls.