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Home › Expert Q&A › Safety › What kind of things can parents do to keep children safe in urban areas?

Expert Q&A

 

By Diana Jones
Safety Expert

What kind of things can parents do to keep children safe in urban areas?

Whether you live in the city or the country,instructing children on how topractice good "stranger" safety is basically the same. While the city addsthe stress of being a chaotic environment, it is alsohelpful to rememberthat there are always people around walking on thestreets, in businesses,and driving on the roadways; unlike in the suburbswhere children oftenhave to walk to and from somewhere on quiet, countryroads. City familiesshould definitely take advantage of the busyenvironment when devisingsafety plans.

Keeping this in mind, here are some of the basic rulesthat urban familiesshould incorporate into their safety strategies:

  • Children should be instructed to avoid desolatealley ways, cut-throughs,and unfrequented locations within buildings.
  • When going to and from places, there should be setroutes determined aheadof time with parents and not strayed from by childrenunless permission hasbeen granted first.
  • Parents and children should walk these routestogether and identify safehaven locations (fire stations, post offices, stores)where children shouldgo if they feel threatened in anyway. And safetystrategies should beformed for how to make the best use of these safetylocations (if you havenot passed 74th street, and you're scared go back toschool. If you arepassed 74th street, go to the fire house.)
  • When at all possible, children should rely on thebuddy system whentraveling to and from somewhere -- staying in a groupis always a safer bet.They should always have change in their pocket, aprepaid calling card orcell phone to use in case of an emergency.
  • Children should be reminded that calling 911 isalways the best option andalways free even from a pay phone.
  • In the case of buildings without doormen, childrenshould be told never toenter the building if they sense that something iswrong inside or thatthey may be followed inside by someone they are unsureabout. They shouldalso avoid entering elevators under the samecircumstances.
  • Children need to be informed about the concept ofa "safe stranger,"someone who can lend an immediate hand if they feelthreatened and waitwith them until help arrives. However, this is notsomeone that theyshould leave and go somewhere with. Examples of "safestrangers" in theirneighborhoods should be found. People like doormen,store clerks, etc., makegood choices.
  • Parents with young children should institute a"hand-holding" policy or an"always within sight policy" with their children sochildren are never toofar away.
  • Plans should also be devised for what to do iffamilies become separated.With young children, finding a counter or cashregister within a store andasking the person behind it for help is an effectiveway of dealing withthis. Children should be told never to leave and goanywhere with theperson, and these locations should be pointed out toyoung children oftento make sure they understand what to do.

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