Parents' Summertime Safety Tips for Children
The Tallahassee Police Department is reminding parents and caregivers that now is the time to take the necessary precautions to ensure your child's safety and welfare during the summer break. TPD has assembled a list of easy to remember safety tips that will help make city residents' summer memorable for the right reasons:
- When riding in a vehicle, make sure children are secured in an approved child safety seat or seat belt. Remember, the back seat is safest!
- When riding a bicycle, skateboard or inline skates, children should wear the proper safety gear including a helmet. Remember to abide by the rules of the road.
- When children are swimming, always make sure an adult is nearby and watching. Never allow children to swim alone! Remember to have children wear sunscreen.
- Instruct children that if they find a gun, don't touch it! Tell them to alert an adult or a police officer.
- Stranger Danger! Remind children that anyone they don't know is a stranger. Tell them never talk to or take candy from a stranger; never take rides from a stranger; never help a stranger look for a lost pet; never open the door for a stranger.
- Make sure children know their complete name, the parent's name and how to contact a parent in an emergency.
- Keep an updated schedule of children's activities and know whom they will be with, how to contact them and when they will return.
- When at parks, shopping malls and public events, be aware of the surroundings and keep children within eyesight.
- Be alert to strangers watching children and report any suspicious persons or activities to the police immediately.
- Make sure children know how to dial 911 if they need help or have an emergency.
TPD hopes these friendly reminders will help residents have a safe and happy summer.