Back to School Home Safety
As a parent, you are currently most likely preparing to send your child back to school. Excitement and joy come in anticipation of the first day and the many new experiences they will encounter. With these feelings, concern also comes into play, as your child’s protection and safety are of the most importance to you. However, this should not be a time filled with anxiety or fear. There are several things you can do as a parent to ensure the safety of your children as the return to school.
If your child walks to and from school by themselves or if they are a latch key child who will come home from school and be alone for some time, it is critical to educate and prepare your child on how to be safe. During each summer and even during the school year teach your children the different safety measures related with going to school and coming home. Make sure that your child’s walk to school is a safe route with well-trained crossing guards at each intersection. Also, bright colored clothing will make your child more visible to drivers. If it is possible, walk with your child a few times this way you can get a better feeling of how they are abiding by the safety rules. These rules should also apply to children riding their bikes to school.
Our latch key children bring a whole new list of concerns to parents. All children that are going to be home alone after school should be protected by a home security system. This is of most concern since the majority of break-ins occur during the day. When your home is protected by a monitored home security system, most intruders are scared away, and in the case of an intrusion, your child is quickly linked to the monitoring center. ADT has great plans and packages that can meet your families needs and ensure back to school safety in your home.
Your child should know how to arm and disarm your home security system, as well as to lock the door upon home arrival. It may also be a good idea for your child to be instructed to contact you upon arriving at home. You should also instruct your child on not answering the doorbell or telephone. Leave a clearly accessible and visible list in your home for your child of contacts in case of an emergency. No measures are too great to ensure your child’s safety.
In addition to a monitored home security system, other safety equipment are important for you child’s safety. A monitored smoke detector is crucial to your child’s home safety. Children are naturally curious about fire, increasing the risk of a potential home fire. If a child is playing with fire, 53% of the time it occurs in a bedroom, which is full of soft goods, which quickly catch on fire. Thoroughly instruct your child on fire safety rules. The U.S. Fire Administration has a great interactive website for kids to learn about fire safety. In addition to educating your child on fire safety, with an ADT approved monitored smoke detector, your home is safe from fire and smoke damage, and you are given quick access to the authorities, whether you are at home, away, or sound asleep.
Remember that education is the key to back to school safety for your family.
