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THE CHIEF’S CORNER

End of School Year Safety for a Not So Typical End of School Year

In that children have been staying at home for several weeks due to COVID-19, it certainly is not a typical end of school year. The typical rush of youth out into the public is not happening. Instead, we anticipate a gradual re-opening of youth getting out into public places, with it being many weeks or months before we see things getting back towards anything considered normal.

Remember that although COVID-19 recovery will not be normal, it is still important to remember and educate yourself on things that can be done to better ensure the safety of your children over the summer. This is especially so as more and more people return to work. Summer is a time when many parents start to think of the unsupervised time their children will be facing, time spent home alone, or new caregivers being introduced. Included below are just a few tips to keep children safe as your children transition towards having more normal contact with others.

Slow down and be aware when driving, especially in neighborhoods where kids, who may run into roadways or walk out from between cars, are out playing. Teach your children to make eye contact with a driver before they cross a roadway. Remind them to walk, not run, across the road and to stop, look, and listen before they cross. Talk to them about not jaywalking and crossing at intersections that have a marked crosswalk. Always watch for small children as you backup your car. Walk around your vehicle to make sure no kids or pets are behind it before driving. Line-up trustworthy childcare. This guarantees there is no lapse in supervision. Take time to do the research and make sure you are comfortable with the person or facility you choose. Plan activities. Too often a bored child will find mischief. Where proper COVID-19 safety measures are incorporated, summer camps, community educations classes, youth groups, or mission trips are all great ways to help your kids stay engaged. Protect those children staying home alone. Lay down some rules and guidelines and let your children know there are consequences for not following the guidelines. You will want to make sure your child knows how to operate any safety measures that are in place at home and how to call for help if needed. Make sure they do not share garage door codes with friends. Inform friends of your rules.

"For kids, summer is typically all about hanging with friends. For you, this can mean supervising and being responsible for more kids than just your own. Make sure children that will be spending time at your house and their parents know your rules and expectations". Check out (https://nightlock.com/school-safety/end-school-year-safety-tips/). And most important this year is to educate yourself on how to talk to your child about COVID-19 healthy lifestyle practices. One resource for this is https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/helping-children-cope-with-changes-resulting-from-covid-19 . There are many online resources available on COVID-19 safety precautions.

Dale Coleman
Chief of Police