Staying Safe

There are lots of simple things you can do to keep yourself safe whilst having fun, however you also need to be aware of potential dangers whilst out and about with your friends.

Personal Safety

To help keep you and your property safe and secure, try to follow these basic guidelines:

• Always let your parents or an adult know where you are and how to contact you – remember to let them know of any change of plans.
• When out with friends – stick together and return home together – make sure your mobile is charged.
• If you are going out alone, make sure you know your route and share your plans, especially your return journey with someone before you set off.
• After a concert or event if your transport arrangements fail and you end up being left on your own, speak to the organisers to see if they can help you make other arrangements. Ask to stay at the venue until your transport arrives.
• Don’t accept a lift form someone you have just met or a stranger.
• Do not accept gifts from people you don’t know.
• If someone or a group is making you or your friends feel uncomfortable, try to get to a safe place – a shop, a café, a friend’s house, a family members house. If you become scared ring 999.
• If you get lost, try using the GPS function on your phone to find out where you are and how to get to where you are going.
• Wherever you are, be aware of how to make an emergency call and how to leave if you feel uncomfortable.

Online Safety:

• Never give out any personal information to people that you meet online – no matter who you think you're talking to.
• Look for more tips and support on the Keeping Safe Online information tile.

Job Safety:

• Be careful about applying for jobs online.
• Try to find casual jobs such a babysitting through family or friends.
• If possible, go with a parent or friend on your first day.
• If you have a paper round, never accept a lift or an invitation into a stranger’s house.

Bike Safety: Be Safe, Be Seen

When the nights are darker and cycling conditions can be more dangerous because of the weather and the range of conditions following these simple steps will help you be visible to other road users.  

• Bicycle lights: It is illegal not to have lights on the front and back of your bike when cycling in the dark – check your lights regularly (if you cycle home from school regularly, it might be a good idea to have spare batteries with you).
• Bright clothing: Whilst you might not want to cycle in a hi-vis jacket, there are other little steps you can use to help you be seen – reflective strips on your bag; hi- vis gloves or a cycling jacket, hi-vis strips on your helmet.
• Helmets: These are extremely important and should always be worn.
• Reflectors: These can be added to your bike – make sure they are not covered in mud.

Useful Websites:

A guide to cycling in the dark

Cycling safety for children

Playing Safely:

When the weather is warm and sunny, there is nothing better than exploring with your friends, but remember it is also important to keep yourselves safe.

Swimming:

If you are tempted to go for a swim in open water like reservoirs, canals, rivers and other open water areas, you could be putting yourself and others at risk, the water may look safe, but even for strong and confident swimmers, it can be dangerous for the following reasons:

• There are no lifeguards to keep an eye on you
• It is difficult to know how deep it is or will get
• The water will be a lot colder than you are expecting it to be
• There could be hidden currents that you cannot see
• There could be hidden rubbish and reeds that you could get stuck in
• The water pollution could make you ill
• The sides of the banks could be slippery and steep, making it hard to get out of

Building Sites and Derelict Buildings:

These may feel like fun places to explore but have lots of dangers, which could cause you a serious injury:

• Rotten timbers and floors that might collapse if you walk on them
• Large holes in floors
• Unstable stairs
• Rusty nails, broken glass, toxic waste
• Dangerous chemicals
• Machinery/ ladders
• Vermin

It is important to remember that these places are blocked up for a reason, it is also illegal to enter them and you may be breaking the law by doing so.

Railway Lines:

It is illegal and very dangerous to trespass on railway lines. Do not be tempted to take a short cut across a track, trains travel at great speed and cannot stop quickly, which could result in serous life changing injuries.  

Summer Fun Top Tips:

• Only swim in designated swimming pools
• Use appropriate crossings – pedestrian, railway level crossings and bridges
• If a sign says ‘Danger’ pay attention, it is there for a reason – do not enter or climb
• Be aware if you have your headphones on as you won’t always be able to hear or be aware of surrounding traffic

Party Nights:

Attending parties are great fun, but also can present some problems you need to be aware of. Think of the following situations before you agree to going.

• Who has invited you? – friends, someone you don’t know very well, someone online.
• Where is the party? – somewhere you know well, at someone’s house you don’t know.

Before You Set Off:

• Make sure you know whose party it is.
• Make sure you know the address of where you are going and make a note of the details.
• Tell your trusted adult where you are going, who you are going with and what time it. finishes. It is a good idea to share your location via GPS.
• Plan for getting home – if using a taxi, add the number to your contacts.
• Make sure your mobile is fully charged.
• Make sure you have money to get home.

If you start to feel uncomfortable at the party:

• Let your friends know and stay together
• Avoid going into a room by yourself with someone
• If you have been drinking alcohol – Stop!
• If someone offers you drugs – don’t accept
• Phone or text a trusted adult and ask them to come and pick you up
• Say you don’ feel well and phone a taxi or a trusted adult to pick you up
• Don’t accept a lift from someone you don’t know
• Let and check with all your friends that you and they have got home safely

Fire Safety:

Here are some handy hints on how you and your family can stay safe from fire:

• Try to charge your devices during the day when you can keep an eye on them. If your phone is charging overnight, what happens if something goes pop? Also, make sure that if you are not using a device, turn it off at the plug!
• Have an escape plan. Why not help your family come up with a plan on how to get out of the house safely if there is a fire. Where are your exits and could you get out of