Sections & Units

Crime Prevention Unit

Keeping Your Kids Safe

• Things your child should know
• The Stranger Rules
• Tips for parents to keep kids safe
• If your children are missing
• Safety within your community

Things your child should know

• Their full name, age, address, area code, home phone number and parents' work/ cellular number.
• How to use a pay phone to make both local and long distance phone calls.
• Contact police, fire and EMS in an emergency (9-1-1) and 266-1234 in a non-emergency.
• Stay with a group and maintain a buddy system.
• Use the same route to and from school.
• Neighbourhood Block Parent homes, Block Watch homes and names of friends and neighbours.
• Safe places to play;
  
  
  • front and backyards,
  • parks,
  • playgrounds, and
  • school grounds.
• Places to avoid;
  
  
  • unsupervised areas,
  • vacant lots,
  • empty buildings,
  • construction zones,
  • riverbeds and creeks, and
  • dark, wooded, bushy areas.
• Steps to take if being followed by a car;
  
  
  • turn and run in the opposite direction,
  • get a description and licence number of the stranger's vehicle,
  • run to the closest safe place, and
  • stay in open areas that are visible.

The Stranger Rules

• Never talk to strangers
• Never take anything from strangers
• Never go anywhere with a stranger
• Do not be fooled by tricks or phoney conversation
• If a stranger tries to grab you, yell, scream and kick
• Never tell a stranger you are by yourself or that your parents or the person taking care of you is not home

Tips for parents to keep kids safe

• Accompany your children everywhere, know where they are at all times even when being supervised by another responsible adult, be aware of any change in schedule and ensure you are able to be reached by your children
• Give your children's school or daycare the names of persons to whom your child may be released
• Write your children's names on the inside of their clothing where strangers cannot read it; remember the clothing your children are wearing
• Maintain records of your children including recent photographs, fingerprints*, height, weight, medical and dental history, favourite play areas, friends and playmates

• Be cautious of any adult or older child who takes an unusual interest in spending time alone with your child
• Teach your children about their bodies using proper names of body parts and explain that no one has the right to touch them without permission
• Role-play potential situations that your children may encounter

If your children are missing

• Search your home, playgrounds and surrounding areas.
• Check with friends, playmates, relatives and schools.
• Contact police and be prepared to provide the following information;
  
  
  • complete physical description,
  • recent photograph and fingerprint record,
  • description of clothing worn at the time of disappearance,
  • recent problems at home, school, daycare or with playmates,
  • missing items (clothes, toys, favorite possessions, etc?), and
  • medical conditions or problems.

Safety within your community

• Join your local Block Parent or Block Watch Association.
• List names and telephone numbers of neighbours, friends and relatives. Update this list regularly and keep it close to the phone.
• Keep an eye open for suspicious pedestrians, vehicles and activity around your home and in your community.
• Introduce yourself and your children to your neighbours, playmates and other parents in the community.