Recognising Danger
Recognising Danger
We all want to ensure the safety of our children but keeping them safe can be a 24/7 job. We can ease the load on ourselves as parents by teaching our children to recognise potentially dangerous situations and appropriate responses whilst putting these ideas into practice for ourselves.
Teach our children and ourselves to recognise what is “normal” in our homes, schools, and local community. This will make it easier to spot incongruities that may signal a potential dangerous situation, such as
A darkened area that is normally lit.
Door locks not in their expected state. Perhaps the storeroom door is normally locked but you notice it is unlocked.
Someone approaching with a cricket bat but not dressed for sport or carrying a sports bag.
Someone matching your pace as you walk down the street.
More difficult ones include:
An injured or disabled person asking for help with packages. This is not to say that we should not offer assistance but that help should be appropriate to ensure your own safety. Children can fetch a known adult to provide assistance rather than get directly involved.
Similarly a request for assistance with sick child, a relative or the elderly could be used as an excuse or be legitimate call for help. Is the sick child actually present or is this just an excuse to get us to follow them? By making an alternative offer, such as phoning for help or fetching someone else better qualified to assist can help us decide the level of threat depending upon the response offered. Is the person asking for help insistent upon us helping or accepting of help from others?
We all like to help out someone with a lost dog or other pet, especially children. Cons relating to a lost pet prey upon our willingness to jump in and help animals without due consideration to the person asking and their reason for our help. Children should offer to get help from an adult and not to assist themselves, particularly if there is any request to go with someone to help look for the pet. By encouraging children to fetch adult help they will learn to be helpful, yet not put themselves closer to any potential danger.
Become aware of your own senses of hearing, seeing, smelling, touch, taste and your 'sixth sense’.
When arriving home can you smell something that may indicate a stranger in the house? Can you hear strange sounds or familiar sounds that may be missing?
Improve your memory of what is 'normal' in your everyday environment, at work, home, school or street. Observe your surroundings and become aware of the nearest open store, bus stop, police station or hospital; in fact any place where people gather day and night. Be aware of which neighbours are home at various times during the day. Is your local police, fire or ambulance station open 24 hours? If being hassled, where is the nearest place to go for assistance or just to settle your nerves?
Prevention is better than cure, so get to know your surroundings and understand what is ‘normal’ so that you will more easily recognise the abnormal without constantly worrying about any potential danger.
Pre-thought, pre-planned, prepared
Brought to you by Upwey Tae Kwon Do & Self Defence
ph: 9754 2252
e: upweytkd@rheetkdvic.com.au