Would your child know what to do if ---

• He got lost at a shopping mall?
• A nice-looking, friendly stranger offered her a ride home after school?
• A friend dared him or her to drink beer or smoke a joint?
• The babysitter or a neighbor wanted to play a secret game?

A great thing about kids is their natural trust in people, especially in adults.  It's sometimes hard for parents to teach children to balance this trust with caution.  Kids today need to know the common-sense rules that can help keep them safe and build the self-confidence required to handle emergencies.

• Start with the basics:
• Make sure your children know their full name, address (city and state), and phone number including area code.
• Be sure kids know to call 9-1-1 or "0" in emergencies and how to use a public phone.  Practice making emergency calls with a make-believe phone.
• Tell them never to accept rides or gifts from someone they and you don't know well.
• Teach children to go to a store clerk, security guard, or police officer for help if lost in a mall or store or on the street.
• Set a good example with your own actions  --  lock doors and windows and see who's there before opening the door to anyone.

Take time to listen carefully to your children's fears and feelings about people or places that scare them or make them feel uncomfortable.  Tell them to trust their instincts.* 

* Crime prevention tips from the National Crime Prevention Council and the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.