Branson Police Department

 

D.A.R.E. Founded 1983

 



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Tips for staying Safe


Safety at School | Safety on the Internet | Safety on the Street

Safety at School
When crime, drugs and violence spill over from the streets into the schools, it makes it harder to find a safe place to learn. More students carry guns or knives to protect themselves. Guns replace fists in schoolyard fights. To get to and from school, many students must go through areas where gangs and drug dealers hang out. More and more kids are using guns instead of using their heads.

When this happens, children cannot learn and teachers cannot teach.

It’s up to everyone – kids, parents, teachers and the community  -- to make sure schools are a place where kids can feel safe, not scared. Here are a few ways students can help:

·         Don’t use guns, knives or your fists to settle fights. Use your head and try to talk it out. Sometimes it’s best to walk away from a fight.

·         If you see a crime being committed or hear that someone has brought a weapon to school, tell your teacher, a parent or the police.

·         Find a safe way to get to school. Try to stay away from areas where gangs and drug dealers hang. Know where you can go for help if you need it.

·         Stay away from drugs and alcohol. Don’t use them and don’t hang out with people who do.

If your school has anti-violence activities such as poster contests or anti-drug rallies, get involved. If there is no anti-violence program, get friends, parents and teachers to help you start one.

Safety on the Internet
The Internet is great and a fun way to explore.  However there are bad people out there that want to take advantage of kids. Here are some tips to be smart when surfing on the World Wide Web:

1.       Be very careful when on the Internet.  People online may not be who they say they are.

2.       Never give out your real name, any personal information (like your age or where you live) when you’re in a public chat room, on an electronic bulletin board or in your E-mail messages.

3.       Make up fun nicknames when you are online.

4.       Never call anyone you meet on the Internet.

5.       Never send anyone you don’t know a picture of yourself.

6.       Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are rude, mean or threatening, and make sure you tell an adult if you get a message like that.  

7.       Make sure you never give out any passwords.  People who work for the Internet will never ask for passwords.

8.       Realize that everything you read or see on the Internet may not be true.

9.       Never let anyone pressure you into doing something you feel uncomfortable doing.

10.   Never enter an area on the Internet that charges for services without asking permission from a responsible adult first.

11.   Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with any other computer user without getting a parent's permission.

12.   Discuss the rules for using the Internet with your parents.  They might put restrictions on the computer to help protect you.

NetSmartz® is an interactive, educational safety resource from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® and Boys & Girls Clubs of America for children (ages 5-17), parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement that uses age-appropriate, 3-D activities to teach children how to stay safer on the Internet. The NetSmartz Workshop can be accessed at www.NetSmartz.org and www.NetSmartzKids.org.



Safety on the Street
Test Your "Street Smarts" IQ: Do you…

  1. Jog or walk by yourself early in the morning or late at night when the streets are quiet and deserted?
  2. Stuff your purse with cash, keys, credit cards, checkbook - and then leave it wide open on a counter, your desk, the floor?
  3. Put your wallet in a jacket, which you then hang up or throw over a chair?
  4. Let your mind wander - thinking about your job, or all the things you have to do - when walking or driving?
  5. Think it's a waste of time to lock your car when you'll be back in a few minutes?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you need to change a few habits. Even if you answered "no" and made a perfect score, read on. Spend a few minutes now to prevent trouble later.

Basic Street Sense

  1. Wherever you are - on the street, in an office building or shopping mall, driving, waiting for a bus or subway - stay alert and tuned in to your surroundings.
  2. Send the message that you're calm, confident, and know where you're going.
  3. Trust your instincts. If something or someone makes you uneasy, avoid the person or leave.
  4. Know the neighborhoods where you live and work. Check out the locations of police and fire stations, public telephones, hospitals, and restaurants, or stores that are open late.

On Foot

  1. Stick to well-traveled streets. Avoid shortcuts through wooded areas, parking lots, or alleys.
  2. Don't flash large amounts of cash or other tempting targets like expensive jewelry or clothing.
  3. Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps.
  4. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket, not a back pocket.
  5. Try to use automated teller machines in the daytime. Have your card in hand and don't approach the machine if you're uneasy about people nearby.
  6. Don't wear shoes or clothing that restrict your movements.
  7. Have your car or house key in hand before you reach the door.
  8. If you think someone is following you, switch direction or cross the street. Walk toward an open store, restaurant, or lighted house. If you're scared, yell for help.
  9. Have to work late? Make sure there are others in the building, and ask someone - a colleague or security guard - to walk you to your car or transit stop.

Learn more about auto theft and carjacking.

  1. Keep your car in good running condition. Make sure there's enough gas to get where you're going and back.
  2. Always roll up the windows and lock car doors, even if you're coming right back. Check inside and out before getting in.
  3. Avoid parking in isolated areas. Be especially alert in lots and underground parking garages.
  4. If you think someone is following you, don't head home.
  5. Drive to the nearest police or fire station, gas station, or other open business to get help.
  6. Don't pick up hitchhikers. Don't hitchhike.

On Buses and Subways

  1. Use well-lighted, busy stops.
  2. Stay alert! Don't doze or daydream.
  3. If someone harasses you, don't be embarrassed. Loudly say "Leave me alone!" If that doesn't work, hit the emergency device.
  4. Watch who gets off with you. If you feel uneasy, walk directly to a place where there are other people.

If Someone Tries To Rob You

  1. Don't resist. Give up your property, don't give up your life.
  2. Report the crime to the police. Try to describe the attacker accurately. Your actions can help prevent others from becoming victims.

Learn more about things you can do and things kids can do.

  1. Take a Stand
  2. Make your neighborhood and workplace safer by reporting broken street lights, cleaning up parks and vacant lots, and lobbying local government for better lighting in public places.
  3. Join a Neighborhood, Apartment, or Office Watch to look out for each other and help the police. Or find out how you can organize a neighborhood watch.
  4. Help out a friend or co-worker who's been a victim of crime.
  5. Cook a meal, babysit, find the number for victim services or a crisis hotline.
  6. Listen, sympathize, and don't blame.
  7. Look at the root causes.

Work for better drug treatment services, crime and drug abuse prevention education, and job and recreational opportunities for young people in your community.