Security & Fraud

10 ways to keep your kids safe

After several emails from concerned parents, I have created what I feel are the 10 most important home security tips to teach your children.

Please review this list with your youngsters and make sure they understand each and every safety tip.

Do not open the door to strangers. The same rule applies to strangers at home as it does on the street, "Do not talk to strangers!" Take the time to explain to your children that although home is a safe place, the reason it is safe is because your family takes precautions by not opening doors to strangers.

Explain to your children that there are bad people who pose as tradesmen, delivery people, or even people in distress. It's all right not to open the door. Explain these people can always get help somewhere else or come back later to make a delivery or do service work.

Install door viewers at your children's eye level. Quite often door viewers are installed without any thought given to children, rendering them useless to youngsters. Don't worry about the appearance of a door viewer installed at a lower level; replacing the door down the road is a small price to pay for your children's safety.

Make sure your children don't brag about your family's purchases: Whether it is a new television, CD or DVD player, a burglar might have overheard the conversation.

Teach your children how to secure all locks and alarms when they are in the home alone. Have them show you how to arm and disarm the alarm system and secure all door locks and window locks. Making sure they understand the importance of getting into this habit is crucial for their safety.

Create a secure room: Install extra deadbolts and door-reinforcing on a room as an escape route in the event of a forced entry. Rehearse with your children how they would find their way to safety once locked inside a secured room.

Make sure your children have a cellular phone to use in case of emergency. If your phone lines are cut or tampered with, your children can still call for help.

Teach your children to call 9-1-1 in emergencies and explain to dispatchers what the problem is. Make sure they know their address.

Have a list of family contacts: Your children should have a list of phone numbers for family and helpful friends, in case they experience a problem they don't know how to handle, such as a malfunctioning lock or alarm system.

Teach them that if they answer the phone to a stranger wanting to know if their parents are home, they should say their parents are busy right now and they will have to call back later. Children should never tell strange callers they are home alone.

Frightening calls should be reported to a family contact immediately.

Please check out my new Web site at www.yourhomesecurity.ca or e-mail me at . Columns 2006 2005 2004