Fall is here and along with that comes many changes. Public schooled kids have gone back to school. The weather is getting cooler. The busy schedules with Fall sports, after school activities, and schedules are back. Now that routines are back in place after the leisurely Summers, it’s important to remember to be safe and to share these safety topics with the whole family. A Fall Family Safety Meeting would be a great time to share thoughts, rules, guidelines, and address any questions that arise. It’s important to set guidelines for using social media and things to remember for when getting to and from home safely.
Master Lock has given five tips to help you stay safe this Fall:
1: Always Be Aware Of Your Surroundings: With the change of seasons comes the change in daylight hours. Dusk comes earlier and it’s harder to see clearly in the darkness. Remind children to follow safety precautions when out. Whenever they are walking to or from home or even just to a parked car, it’s a good idea to be aware of all surroundings. It’s always best to stay with a group, stay in well lit areas, and avoid short cuts, changes in paths, and be sure to always follow safety rules.
2: Create W “Home Alone” Rule: Circumstances arrive when teens or even younger children are home unsupervised. It’s completely natural for parents to feel unsure and uneasy at the beginning. Spending some time planning can ease both children’s and parent’s hesitations and help the child feel confident. Be sure to set clear guidelines for your children to follow when home alone. Lock the door immediately. Have child call to check in with parent when first arriving home. Do not answer the door for any visitors or strangers. Review emergency phone numbers and have them clearly posted. As an alternative to hiding an extra key beneath a door mat or rock, consider using the Master Lock Portable Key Safe. This is a great solution for storing keys securely outside so nobody is ever locked out.
3: Set Rules For Social Media Sharing: Children and teens are sharing lots of information about themselves on social media more than ever. As parents, it is necessary to supervise this information and advise on what should and should not be shared. Identifying information is a security risk that needs to be discussed. Set up ground rules for what information is allowed.
4: Lock Down Valuables: In school, lockers help keep valuables such as wallets, gadgets, key, and personal belongings safe but what about the items left out in the car or that are being carried around? By keeping valuables locked up in a small portable safe such as the SafeSpace Storage Security by Master Lock, kids can easily fit this secure device in their backpack, gym back, or lock down to a fixed object.
5: Protection Inspection: When going over safety guidelines this Fall, it’s the perfect time to create and practice a fire plan. Start with an inspection of your home. Be sure all smoke alarms are properly functioning and have the whole family review the sounds so everyone knows what to do if they go off. Create an evacuation plan. Visit each room and designate two ways to escape. Be sure all windows and doors work properly. Finally, designate a safe space where the whole family will meet after exiting. The meeting place should be close to home but far enough to be safe in case of a fire. It should be located in the front of the home so safety personnel can easily locate you. The meeting place needs to be easy to find in both day and night conditions such as near a telephone pole, mailbox, or tree. The most important part of the plan is practice. Go over and practice the escape plan so everyone is comfortable with it. The statistics say that 71% of Americans have plans but only 47% have practiced them.
Connect: Head over to Master Lock and check out their great selection of products to help keep your family and possessions safe. Don’t forget to like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and Pinterest, and subscribe to their YouTube Channel for all the latest news and promotions.
I’m a city girl turned country by my awesome husband and we have three busy boys and two darling daughters. I love spending time with my family, reading Karen Kingsbury novels, and catching up with friends while our kiddos have play dates. I’m blessed beyond measure and can’t wait to see what God has in store.
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When I think of locks for anything, Master Lock is the only brand I consider. Partially, this is because of brand loyalty – my parents always used Master Lock for us girls and our school lockers growing up, and foot lockers and such. It’s also because I just trust the design and quality of Master Lock – they are always durable, fit well and feel right.
we need to invest in one of the portable key safes here- my oldest is just 8 but i get so worried she’ll be dropped off or something and won’t know what to do or where to go. and my neighbors aren’t home much to leave a key at their house, you know?
Lolli @ Better in Bulk
mel
Thanks, these reminders should come daily, safety and security are the hot button issues these days for all of us!
Mitch