And You Thought Keeping Kids Safe Was Simple - Well You Were Half Right

Article first published on Technorati
Safety First – it’s a common phrase but we ignore it all the time. You sit in the plane and ignore all the safety instructions from the air hostess - don't we all? It’s complacency, the enemy of safety. The best way to make people safe is to teach safety habits when they are young. Once something becomes a habit or a second nature, you don’t have to worry about complacency creeping in. Let's review some common-sense ways of teaching kids some basic but very important safety habits. The list below is focused on injury prevention and safety from strangers:

• Do not talk on your cell phone when you go out for a walk with your kids. No one said it was easy.
• Look before you cross a road - every time and make sure your kids do the same. Most of the grown-ups don't follow this rule themselves as they think they don' t need to.
• When you are driving your kids, make sure to show good driving habits. Again, don't be talking on the phone while driving, atleast not in front of the kids. When you stop at a stop sign explain why you did so to your kids.
• As for safety from strangers, make sure they know how to get in touch with you in case they get seperated from you in a crowded place. They should know your cell number and they should know who to ask for help. For little kids, it makes sense to put your cell number on a paper and put it in their pockets when you go to crowded places.
• Play "Lost" at home where you pretend that they are lost and they need to figure out a way to contact you. Play the game often enough so it gets engrained in their heads.
• Walkie-talkes are fun, cheap and a great way to ensure you can communicate with your kids in case they get seperated.

Being able keep a calm head in case of an emergency is an extremely useful skill not only for safety but for overall success in life. Calm head can think fast. Some people are naturally calm, and other have to learn it but it's worth it. Again, best way to teach is to practice it yourself.

One key point I'd like to make is that, concept of safety is important but at the same time being over protective of your kids is not right either. Follow and teach all basic safety habits but at the same time let them explore and gain confidence in thier abilities. Confidence is key to a calm head which in turn is critical to safety.

So yes, keeping kids safe is simple ... but not that easy !