Home Alone Safety Tips To Keep You Safe By: Neil Callahan 4-H Extension Agent

Answer These Questions Do you ever stay at home alone when your parents are gone? Do you stay by yourself for a short period of time? Do you stay by yourself for a long period of time? What do you think are some things you need to know if you are staying at home alone?

House Rules What are the rules at your house? Do you know? Ask your parents to write them down for you. This way they are easier to remember. Always follow your house rules because they can help keep you safe.

Passwords Passwords are kept secret! Only you and your family should know it. Example: Eagle could be your password. Passwords are used to help you identify if someone is a stranger. If a person asks you to go with them somewhere and you don’t know them, ask them for the password. If they do not know it, don’t go with them. Never tell anyone your password without your parents permission.

Key Safety Keep your key on you in a safe place where no one can see it. If I see you have a key, I know you probably stay at home alone. Never show anyone your key. You could wear it on a long chain around your neck.

Have a spare key at a neighbor’s house. Never hide your key near the door. A lot of crooks know where to look for hidden keys. If you lose your key, call your parents at a safe neighbor’s house. If you lose it at school, call your parents before you leave school.

Know how to use your keys and know what door they open. Never go outside without your key. Never leave your key in the lock.

When you are home alone… Making Safe Snacks When you are home alone… Do not use the oven or stove. Do not use the microwave. Safe snacks that do not require these items. Funny Face Sandwich Peanut Butter Bug Magical Shamrock Potion

Personal Safety The Telephone Just say hello. Do not name give your name. Provide no information about yourself or your parents. Do not let the person on the phone know that your parents are not at home. If they ask to speak with them, just say that they can not speak with them at this time. You could ask the person if they would like to leave a message.

If you get a prank or obscene call, just hang up. Do not say anything. If someone keeps calling you, call your parents and let them know.

Personal Safety Strangers What do you think of when you think of a stranger? A stranger is anyone that you do not know well. They can be female or male, young or old, it does not matter. Some strangers are okay, but some are not. That is why we have to be carefully when dealing with all strangers.

Personal Safety When You Are Outside Playing Play with friends or in places with other children. Stay away from dark, isolated areas. If a stranger tries to talk to you, walk away and do not answer. Never go with or near a stranger.

Never accept anything from a stranger If you are followed by someone, go straight to a public place or to a friends house for help. If someone says that they have been sent to pick you up, ask for the password. If they do not know it, do not go with them.

Personal Safety Answering The Door When someone knocks on your door, just answer yes, may I help you. Do not say anything else. Leave the door locked at all times. Identify who is at the door.

Never let the person know you are at home alone. Ask what their business is. If they want to see your parents, tell them they are busy and take a message. If they are selling something, tell them you are not interested. If they are delivering something, tell them to leave it at the door, leave it at a neighbors, or come back later.

If someone comes to the door and says it’s an emergency and they need your help, tell them you will call help for them or they should go to a neighbors house. Do not let them in for any reason.

Fire Safety How do fires get started? Do you know? Matches, Smoking, Electrical wiring, Lighting, Fireplaces, and etc. What do you do if you catch fire? Stop, Drop, & Roll

Stop, Drop, & Roll helps smother the fire and put it out. Can you demonstrate this? Never use your hands to put out a fire. They will get hurt and take a long time to heal.

What If? What if you are home and you see smoke, smell smoke, or hear a fire alarm? What should you do? Get out of the house quickly to safety. Go to neighbors house, if safe. Call for help (phone, 911). Do not go back in the house for anything. Do not try to fight the fire.

What If? What if you are trapped in the house? Feel the door to see if it is hot. Alert others in the house by yelling or other means. If trapped in a room with a window, try to get someone’s attention for help. If you can, use wet towels to place in front of door cracks, window cracks, and over vents. This helps keep the smoke out. Stay low to the ground, the good air is at the bottom because smoke rises. If you can, crawl to safety.

Weather Safety When bad weather arises, go inside. Do not stay outside because it may not be safe. Leave all electrical items off. They can become damaged during bad weather.

First Aid Safety Always remain calm. Try not to panic. Simple Cuts: Wash the cut to clean it, put first aid cream on it, and put on a band-aid or bandage. Nose Bleed: Tilt head back and place ice pack on head or back of neck. Small Burn: Place under cold water, apply first aid cream, cover with gauze pad, tape the pad in place, and apply ice pack on top of it. For larger injuries, call your parents.

First Aid Kit For The Home Every home should have a first aid kit. You should know where it is located. You can buy one or make your own. Let’s talk about how to make a first aid kit.

How To Make An Emergency Phone Call Dial 911 or the emergency number in your area. Always give your full name. Tell the operator what the emergency is. Give your exact location (E-911 Address). Include a description of the house, if possible. Give them your phone number. Stay on the line with the operator until told to hang up. Get to safety as quickly as possible, if you need to.

Emergency Phone Lists You should have the following phone numbers posted by a phone in your house: Parents work Nearby relative Nearby neighbor Fire Department Police Family Doctor Ambulance Poison Control

Emergency Phone Lists Know both of your parents full name. Know the name of where both of your parents work. Know the full name of the family doctor. Have a copy of your list by each phone in your house.

Emergency Situations To be sure what is considered an emergency and what is not, have a talk with your parents. Practice with your parents what you should do in different emergency situations. Practice makes perfect

Time Management When you are at home alone, do something fun to pass the time. Do your homework Read a book Watch T.V. Work on a craft project.

Any Questions? THE END