Home Alone-Safety Tips for Parents and Children:
- While teaching and reviewing safety rules for staying home alone with your children, stress the importance of the safety rules, without unnecessarily instilling fear.
- Post a list of emergency numbers including family members, trusted friends and neighbors, and emergency personnel.
- Ensure your child knows his/her phone number and address. Write these on the list of important numbers. It is very easy for anyone, especially a child, to panic in an emergency. If included on the list, your child can easily read aloud to a 911 operator in case of an emergency.
- Teach your children how to lock all doors and windows and to keep them locked. Consider installing a security system and teach your children how to properly use it.
- Keep a first aid kit in the house. Teach your child basic first aid.
- Ensure your children know NOT to open the door for anyone when they are home alone unless you have already prearranged for a family member or trusted friend to come by.
- Review telephone procedures with your children. If they are instructed to answer the telephone when you are not there, teach them how to take a message for you without stating that they are home alone.
- Have children check-in with you upon returning home to let you know he or she has arrived safely.
- Teach children to check with you or another trusted adult if he or she is in doubt about anything.
- Children need to stay alert and have a plan for emergencies such as a fire or gas-main leak that would require the need to leave the home.
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