July Meeting

Our monthly meeting took place Wednesday July 20. We had Officer Friendly, Officer Dennis Walsh, as our speaker. It was suggested that it be taped so anyone who couldn't make the meeting could view it at another time. I thought this was a great idea, unfortunately I did not change the speed on my camera and only taped 30 minutes. The good news is Officer Ric Bentz does a presentation on stranger danger, How To Raise a Street Smart Kid, which Officer Walsh thought our group would be really interested in. If all goes well we will have Officer Bentz as a speaker and I will be able to tape it, hopefully without any problems.

This is briefly what Officer Walsh talked about..

He started by saying that the information you give your child is powerful. It isn't what they know that will hurt them, it's what they don't know.

Teach your child their name, phone # and address. Teach them your name so that if they are ever lost the person helping to locate you will know you by more than Mommy or Daddy.

POISONS IN THE HOME - Look around your house, there are many cleaners that in a child's eye look like something good to drink. Example a yellow cleaner with a lemon sliced in half on the label looks like lemonade.

STRANGER DANGER - Who is a stranger? If you ask a child to draw a picture 90% will draw a male, with scars, jagged teeth, knives, guns, very ugly and scary. The person who will try and abduct your child will not look like this.

A good rule to follow is NEVER TALK TO STRANGERS.

Asked "What about a code word?" He said that is not a good idea because the rule should be NEVER TALK TO STRANGERS. If there is a code word that would give the child a reason to stop and listen to the person. Now if your child gets lost you need to help the child identify who will be safe to go to.

Asked "What can you say to a 2 year old versus a 5 year old?" Give them what they can understand. The average child needs to be told something 200 times before they learn it. Scenarios are a good way for a child to learn and they do them at the safety building starting with 5 year olds. It's not that children should have a fear of strangers but be aware that they are always around us, that if the strangers don't bother us there isn't a problem. Statics show 90% of child abductions are done by people who the children know. A good rule to follow is DON'T GO ANYWHERE, WITH ANYONE WITHOUT MOM OR DAD KNOWING!

99% of the time a child will be fine it's the 1% that you need to guard against.

Fire Safety - Have a meeting spot. Preferably somewhere so they don't have to cross a street.

Electrical Boxes - Be aware that they are around and dangerous. Children should not be playing around them. All should have locks if you see one that is broken or without you should call the police department to report it.

If anyone who was at the meeting has anything to add please let me know so I can pass it along.

Thanks,

Roxanne