Children and Back To School Safety - Info from APD

Recently received from APD
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Dear Foothills Neighbors,

With school starting in a few weeks I wanted to send a few tips to rehearse with your children if they will be walking to/from school.

• Please make sure your children practice their walking routes to school with you and that they have a set, established route to and from school.
• Review the importance of walking with a buddy and places to avoid (alleys, abandoned structures, construction zones, areas hidden from view, etc.).
• Go over your family rules for walking places, having kids over or your child going to friends’ homes, checking in with each other, etc.
• Identify ‘safe havens’ with your child where your child could go in case of an emergency if they are bothered or approached. A ‘safe haven’ could be a trusted neighbor’s home, local police or fire station, etc.
• Discuss who ‘trusted adults’ are (teacher, police officer, firefighter, store clerk or security guard, etc.) if you were separated from your child in a public setting or they are approached by a stranger. With the State Fair and Balloon Fiesta around the corner, these are good things to go over together as a family.
• Make sure your child knows to never engage with a stranger, accept a gift or ride from a stranger or answer questions from a stranger about directions, lost puppies, etc. Adults do not ask children for help; they go to other adults.
• Practice with your child what information a 911 operator would need should the child have to call 911: Do they know their full name, address? Parent phone number and address? The importance of remaining calm, answering all of the operator’s questions and not hanging up until help arrive? Would they be able to describe to the operator where they were (look for an address, landmarks, cross-streets, etc.)?

Thanks for being partners with law enforcement and best wishes from the Foothills Area Command for a great back-to-school transition!


Jill Garcia, Crime Prevention Specialist
Foothills Area Command, APD
332-5240