With Halloween fast approaching, Executive Defense Technology is doing a lot of radio and TV interviews on Halloween safety for your kids. An area that they are being quizzed on is safety tips for teenagers that head out for a night of fun.
Remember, Halloween is for teens, too. It is an incredibly exciting time for them because this is the age where kids want to venture out for Trick-or-Treat fun without their parents. They are at an age where being on their own is not only cool but a necessary part of their development as they make their way into adulthood. The good news for you is that you can let them go with a few common sense safety tips:
1. Teenagers should head out in a group of least four individuals or more. Heading out alone is not an option! Make sure your teenager is with a group of good friends. Make sure that they know everyone well. Halloween is not a good time to be running around costumed in the dark with strangers or new friends they are not very familiar with.
2. Make sure you know exactly where your teenager will be when they are out. Ask them what their plans for the night are and hold them to it. Knowing where your teenager is on Halloween, is not about not trusting them, it is about safety. It is about you, the parent being able to find them in an emergency. Send your child out with a cell phone and have then check in periodically, every 45 minutes/ hour - whatever the two of you agree upon, just to let you know where they are and that they are okay.
3. Teenagers also need to keep their eyes open for the smaller, younger kids. This is one of the nights of the year where all age groups mix together. Teens, even with the excitement of being out on their own should keep their eyes open for the younger kids in case there is someone who needs help or just to simply keep from running into them or tripping over them. Smaller kids are more easily injured when running into larger kids simply because they are smaller.
4. Set a specific time with your child that they need to be home. This year, Halloween falls on a weekday. This means kids have school the next day. Have them home no later than 10 p.m. It will take another hour or so for them to calm down and relax before they can head to bed. Yes, tomorrow, they'll be tired but the day after is also a part of Halloween memories.
What about those younger ghosts and goblins? How can we keep them safe? Actually, one of the biggest threats that parents sometimes overlook on this fun day isn't going to come from a poisoned piece of candy or a predator lurking in the bushes. Although, we don't want to minimize those risks either. The biggest danger on Halloween for kids is - injuries from tripping and falling. The majority of injured children showing up in the Emergency Room will do so with broken arms or wrists, chipped teeth and cuts and bruises from falling or tripping in the dark due to excitement and obstructed vision from masks.
As parents, we are enjoying ourselves visiting with neighbors and talking as we travel "around the block" from house to house. While you do so, here are some tips for keeping your kids safe so everyone can have a fun, memorable, safe evening:
1. Arm you kids with flashlights so they can negotiate their way down dark paths. A small, bright light that fits nicely in their hands is best. Make sure any flashlight has fresh batteries and illuminates well. Carry one yourself.
2. Remind the kids, before leaving the house about street safety. In their excitement, don't let them rush out in front of a car. Larry Elliott, of Executive Defense Technology, also recommends placing reflective tape on your child's shoes and on their costumes.
3. Make sure your child's shoes fit and are tied properly. Keep costumes above the ground by a few inches so your youngster doesn't trip on it while walking and running.
And since we don't want to forget about "Personal Safety", make sure your children (young and older) follow these suggestions so they don't become "easy targets" for predators:
1. Stay in well lit areas and avoid dark, lonely locations / paths.
2. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If someone makes you uncomfortable, cross the street, head the other direction and go to a house of a family that you know and trust. (Review "Safe Houses" with your kids BEFORE Halloween so they know exactly where they can go for help)
3. Never give your name or details about yourself to a stranger.
4. Only visit the houses of the neighbors that you know and are familiar with - don't drop your children off in areas you are unfamiliar with.
5. Let the adults be the one to answer the door to Trick-or-Treaters. Don't let the children answer by themselves.
6. Never get close to or into a strangers car or go with them ANYWHERE. If a car pulls up, advise your children to take a few steps back. They should never get close enough so they can be grabbed unexpectedly. If someone needs help or directions, they should be asking an adult - not a child!
7. If you are approached, use your voice! FBI statistics say that 70-80% of assaults can be stopped by good verbal boundaries alone.
Staying safe is a choice! We still have a few days before the Halloween holiday - practice and rehearse safety with your kids so they know what is expected of them and how to prevent accidents or assaults BEFORE they happen.
Have a safe, fun Halloween!
Upcoming Community Programs you can participate in:
1. RAD Training classes to begin at Oakville high school for girls 13 - 18 and their mothers on Monday, January 7th,2008
2. RAD Training Classes at Forest Park Community College to begin at University City High School starting March 19th, 2008
3. 3 hour Community Awareness Programs at St Louis Community Colleges - Saturday, February 23: Wildwood community college; Saturday, March 8: Meremac Community college; Spring Safety Day at Flo Valley Community college on Saturday, April 19th, 2008; Saturday, April 26th: Forest Park Community college; Saturday, May 10th: Forest Park Community college - SIGN UP AND JOIN US!
To Schedule a Program: Visit our website to schedule a program for your next Lunch and Learn / business meeting / seminar / get together / home party/ scout meeting/ symposium / conference/ speaker / school assembly - TODAY!
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