SAFE PASSAGE To And From School A Guide: How to Be Safe! SAFE PASSAGE What would you do if someone approached you at your school bus stop or during your walk to or from school and tried to get you to go with him or her? Here are some tips on how to keep yourself safe: BE ON THE LOOKOUT • Watch the faces of drivers passing by. • Notice the faces of cars parked in the area. • Do not go near any vehicles TURN AND RUN • If anyone tries to get you near a car, back away. Even when you say NO -- keep a safe distance. Never violate the safe distance rule. • If a person tries to get you in the car, turn and run in the opposite direction. • Always fight back to get away from the person. • Never go off with anyone without permission from your parents. SCREAM TO BE SEEN • Yell loud enough to attract attention to yourself and scare the person away. • People will help if they know you are in trouble. They can give information to law enforcement. SHOW AND TELL • Run home as fast as you can, to a friend's house, back to school, or to a Safe Place. • Tell a trusted adult what happened. • Hop aboard the bus if it is there and tell the driver what happened. • Share the information with your bus stop patrol, teacher, or principal when you get to school. • Call your parents and tell them what just happened to you. They can report it to law enforcement. • Show any injuries that you received while getting away. • Show officials the area where the person tried to get you. • Give a description of the person and the car or truck that he or she was driving. WALK AND WAIT WITH A BUDDY • Walk to and from school and wait at your school bus stop with a buddy and, if possible, an adult approved by your parents. • If someone makes you scared or uncomfortable, get away from him or her, and tell a trusted adult about your feelings about that person. • Never give your name or address to anyone without your parent's permission. • When you go home, lock the door and do not open it except for your parents or whoever takes care of you. • When answering the phone, never say that you are home alone. • Do not tell people about your family vacation plans. • Do not play on the playground around unfamiliar adults or older children you do not know. • Stay away from people who hang around the restrooms; do not go into the restroom alone. If you're a youth in crisis needing help fast, look for the yellow and black, diamond-shaped Safe Place signs on businesses, public locations and buses. Help is available wherever you see the sign. • To find a Safe Place Program near you, go to the National Safe Place website: www.safeplaceservices.org or call 888-290-SAFE(7233) If you would like to receive information on Amber and Missing Child Alerts, register your email address at www.missingchildrenalert.com. Author: mgpapas Keywords: renetto Added: October 28, 2006
