Porter County Sheriff's Department

Safe Kids

Children & Guns

* Do your children know what to do if they find a real gun?
* Do you know what to tell them to do?

The National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle
program teaches children what to do if they find a gun. It's easy.

1. STOP.

2. DON'T TOUCH.

3. LEAVE THE AREA.

4. TELL AN ADULT.

Help to guarantee your children's health and safety. It's easy.
Talk to them about what to do if they find a gun.

STOP. DON'T TOUCH. LEAVE THE AREA. TELL AN ADULT.

Your children (and your neighbor's children) are worth it!

    If you are keeping a gun in your home for hobby, sport or protection, you should know the following facts:

Guns in your home increase the chances of a homicide or suicide occurring in your home-it is three times more
likely a homicide will take place and five times more likely that a suicide will take place. A handgun in your home is more than 40 times as likely to kill a relative as to stop a crime.   208 kids under the age of 10 and over 4,100 teens
ages 15-19 are killed each year in incidents involving firearms.

RULES FOR GUN OWNERS:

If you have guns in your home, keep them unloaded and locked away.

Guns should have safety trigger locks.

Teach children that guns are not toys

It is easier to gun-proof a child than to child-proof a gun.

Keep children safe from strangers!

§         The only way children will know how to be safe is
if you take the responsibility of teaching them.

§         Cover the safety bases with your children and make
sure they know that they can come to you to discuss any problem or fear.

§         Children should know safe and well-traveled
routes to schools, parks and friends' homes.

§         Each child should memorize his or her full name,
address, phone number (with area code) and parents' names.

§         Teach your child how to contact help in the event
that he or she is being hassled or followed by a stranger,
and make sure they know to never accept rides from strangers.

Set aside a time to talk to your children about dangerous people. Gear the talk to your children’s own level of understanding and keep everything  you say simple. Be straight forward, yet caring. Never use scare tactics during
your talk. Explain without frightening the sensitive child.  Know where your children are at all times.  Be sensitive to the situations where children could find themselves in danger, such as being left alone in a car or toy department. Know the
names, addresses, and telephone numbers of your children’s friends and be involved in their activities.  Notice if your children do not want to be with someone and ask why.  Explain that a dangerous person is someone you do not know.
Tell children to ask themselves these questions: Have I ever seen this person before?  Do I know this person’s name?

Emphasize that dangerous people may only pretend to be nice.  They try to trick children so they can possibly do bad things to them.  Dangerous people can be big or small, old or young.  They can be men or women, boys or girls. Pay close attention if someone pays unusual attention to your children.  Explain the many situations children may find themselves in
where a dangerous person may approach them and the proper action to take.  Teach your child the “safe” places to go near your home in case you are not near.  Talk about the many lures used by these people to get children to go away with them such as: offering candy, money, presents, and pets.  Never put your children’s names (first or last) on the outside of clothes etc.  Children are more likely to respond to someone who knows their name.  Caution your children to never enter a car or home of someone other than a trusted adult whom you have discussed.  Explain why they should only play with friends in supervised areas, never in vacant buildings, vacant lots or alleyways.  Emphasize that it is OKAY to run away and attract
attention by screaming in scary situations.  Explain that traditional manners can be ignored at these times. Practice with your children yelling for help.  Remind your children to always report any unusual people or situations they encounter to you, a trusted adult, or a law enforcement officer right away. 

REMEMBER: Most importantly, let your children know that you
are willing to talk and listen to anything they may want to report.
Never underestimate any fears or concern your children tell you about.

My Rules for Online Safety

·         I will not give out personal information such as my address,
telephone number, parents' work address/telephone number,
or the name and location of my school without my parents' permission.

·         I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information
that makes me feel uncomfortable.

·         I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online
without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting
, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.

·         I will never send a person my picture or anything else
without first checking with my parents.

·         I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any
way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a
message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so
that they can contact the online service.

·         I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online.
We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length
of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will
not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.

Baby Sitter Tips

When you baby-sit, you are entrusted with a child's life.
Prepare yourself for this important trust
by following these guidelines . . .

Have the following information written down and readily accessible in the event of an emergency: Family name,
children's names, house address with nearest cross street, instructions on how to contact the parents, phone number(s)
of close relatives and neighbors, doctor's name and phone number along with a medical release. Include the phone
number of the poison control center (800) -382-9097 in Porter County.. If you have a printer,
a blank emergency information form is available.
Print several and use them when you are hired to baby-sit.  This information could make the difference in an emergency. If you don't have a printer, call the Sheriff's Department.  We will be happy to mail the form to you!

In the event of an emergency: Call 911: identify yourself by name, tell them you are babysitting and state the problem.
State the address of the house where you are and the nearest cross street. (Be sure to specify north, South,
Avenue, Street, etc.) Give the phone number you are calling from.  Get written instructions about any medicines to be given
to the children -- how much and what time.  Having visitors while babysitting is a bad policy.  Always get approval if you would like to have a visitor.  Find out which visitor to see in case of an emergency.  Be sure to meet the family dog.

Take a walk through the house and check for any special locks, windows that cannot be climbed out of, other telephones and anything all that would be a problem in case of an emergency.  During the walk through, check for hazards and things
that the children can get into, such as matches, lighter fluid, electric cords, plastic bags, medication, or anything else that may be dangerous.  Look to see if there is a pool. Check for doggie doors and any unlocked doors or windows leading to that area.  Have a mental fire drill: that is, plan on more ways than one to get yourself and the children out of the house in case of fire.  Be sure to find out if you are to give the children anything to eat or drink before bed.  Make sure all the doors and windows are locked from the inside, and lock the front door after the parents leave.

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE PARENTS LEAVE
If it is evening, turn on the porch/outside light. If the children are asleep, check on them about every 15 minutes. If the
children are up, know their location at all times and never leave them alone too long.  If for any reason you must leave
the house, TAKE THE CHILDREN WITH YOU.  DO NOT open the door for anyone unless you personally know them.
If someone insists on coming in you and do not recognize them, or if you suspect a prowler, keep the door closed and locked.
 CALL THE POLICE AT 911 immediately.

IN CASE OF FIRE
Sound the alarm -- yell FIRE as loud as possible. If possible, close the door to the area where the fire is. DO NOT attempt
to extinguish the fire, but rather attempt to save a life. Get everyone out of the house, and do not go back in for any reason.
Keep all the children together, and go to the approved neighbor's home.  Call the Fire Department at 911 and leave the children with the neighbors, then go back outside to direct the firefighters to the fire if you need to.

A well-prepared babysitter will be highly respected and greatly
appreciated by parents. Any sitter who takes these
recommendations to heart will be in great demand.

LINKS TO SAFETY PAGES

McGruff-Safe-Kids.com

Babysitting Guide - GREAT guide print it & distribute it to any and ALL Babysitters

Chaz - A site regarding drowning prevention w/medical links

Child Abduction Safety - Links to agencys concerning child abduction

Children's Safety - Index of loads of links to other Safety Pages

Christmas Safety - Basic Christmas & Home safety tips

Safe Eyes - Keep Children's eyes safe from harm

Safety Zone - Huge Safety Page Fire, Pool Safety, & More, GOOD Page

Smokey Bear Fire Safety - Only you can prevent forest fires

Stay Alert & Stay Safe Kids - Games/Treasure Chest, More geared for kids

Street Smart on the Web - Safety Guidelines for Web Surfing