Ready Steady Safe! Safety tips and advice for National Personal Safety Day 2009

Out and About

Do you walk home to and from school on your own? Do you always follow the same route home? Out and About - Tips

If not, talk to your Mum, Dad or Carer about your other routes and when you use them Out and About - Tips

Do you always go straight home after school? Do you tell your Mum, Dad or Carer where you’re going? Out and About - Tips

Always let your Mum, Dad or Carer know if you would like to go somewhere else & get permission first When a friend asks you if you’d like to go their house or the park to play, be sure to check this is OK and that the person who looks after you knows exactly where you will be Out and About - Tips

Travelling by Bus, Tram or Train

Know where you are going and where you need to get off Try and have your ticket, pass or change ready in your hand so that your wallet or purse is out of sight Travelling by Bus, Tram or Train - Tips

If possible, wait for a bus, tram or train in a well-lit place near other people If you’re concerned about your safety on a bus, sit close to the driver Travelling by Bus, Tram or Train - Tips

On trains, avoid compartments which have no access to corridors or other parts of the train Try to sit with other people and avoid empty carriages Travelling by Bus, Tram or Train - Tips

If you feel uneasy, it makes sense to move to another seat or carriage or speak to the guard or driver If you feel threatened on public transport make as much noise as possible to attract attention Travelling by Bus, Tram or Train - Tips

Walking to and from the Station or Stop

Think about the best route home and where you could go if you felt threatened - the best places where you know there will be other people, somewhere like a shop Try to use well lit, busy streets and avoid quiet or badly lit alleyways, subways or isolated parks or waste grounds Walking to and from the Station or Stop - Tips

Try to keep both hands free and don’t walk with your hands in your pockets If a car drives alongside you and someone inside who you don’t know well starts talking to you – turn and quickly walk away in the other direction Walking to and from the Station or Stop - Tips

Keep your eyes and ears on your surroundings Remember if you are wearing an iPod or chatting on your mobile phone, you will not hear trouble approaching Walking to and from the Station or Stop - Tips

If you think you are being followed, cross the road turning and looking to see who is behind you If you are still being followed, keep moving and look for a busy area to tell people what is happening Walking to and from the Station or Stop - Tips