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High School » Cops Column
COPS COLUMN with
School Resource Officer
Trooper Robert Jensen
SAFETY SKILLS FOR CHILDREN – PROTECT AGAINST STRANGERS A child’s safety should come first in a parent’s eyes, as well as in the community. Children are usual primary targets for predators or strangers because they are vulnerable and curious. Vulnerable areas for strangers to abduct children are their own neighborhoods, playgrounds, highly-populated areas (where people won’t notice), anywhere children congregate, or dark areas where people won’t see them. Tell your child to run away to the nearest place where there are people, and scream for help (“this person is trying to hurt me” or “stay away from me”), and make lots of noise if a stranger does try to grab them. | A stranger is someone children don’t know well; a stranger could be a man or woman, well-dressed or shabby, kind or threatening, pretty or ugly. | Here are some ways to protect your child against strangers: Cover the basics. · Teach children their full name, address, phone number, and how to make emergency phone calls. · Walk the neighborhood with your children and show them safe places they can go when in an emergency. · Tell children never to accept gifts or rides from people they don’t know. · Accompany your children to the restrooms. At School and Play · Make sure your children are taking the safest route to school and keep away from alleyways, new construction, and wooded areas. · Encourage your children to walk and play with friends, not alone, and to stay in well-lighted areas where others can see them. · Tell your children to walk confidently and be alert to what’s going on around them. · Encourage your children to look out for other kids’ safety and report anything they see that doesn’t seem right. At Home Alone · Make sure your children can reach you by telephone at work. Post your work number, along with numbers for a neighbor, the police and fire departments, and the poison control center near all your home phones. · Work out an escape plan in case of a fire. · Tell your children never to open the door to a stranger when they are home alone. Caution them about answering the phone and accidentally letting a stranger know they are alone. Kids can always say their parents are busy and take a message. · Make sure they know how to work the door and window locks and that they use them when they are inside alone. | Source: The National Crime Prevention Council |
Dear Parents, Did you know the biggest threat to teens is parked just outside your home? Preventable motor vehicle crashes caused by teen drivers are the leading cause of death for teens in America today. The tragic facts: - Nearly 6,000 young people die in car crashes annually (16 teens a day).
- Approximately 300,000 teens are injured in car crashes each year.
These numbers are unacceptable. As a parent, there is a lot you can do to protect your teen as a driver or, equally important, as a passenger in a car. Believe it or not, teens say their parents have the strongest influence on their driving behavior. Your teen values your guidance when it comes to driving. Take an active role in this important milestone, spread the word, and perhaps even save a life. Help protect your teen driver: - Learning to drive is a critical milestone in a teen’s life and one in which parents should play an active role. Here are some suggestions:
- Talk to your teen early and often. Discuss the risks and responsibilities of driving with your child at a young age and keep talking to your teen before, during, and after the licensing process.
- Determine if your teen is ready to drive. Not all teens are ready to drive when the law says they can. Driving is a privilege, not a right.
- Maximize driver education experience. Seek tips from parents and teens who have recently participated in driver education programs. Remember, driver education is merely a first stop in the process. Parents should provide the bulk of supervised driving practice and discussion before, during, and after licensure.
- Understand your state’s laws. Every state has Graduated Driver Licensing laws to help new drivers get their initial on-the-road driving experience under lower-risk conditions. Familiarize yourself and your teen with these requirements, and establish your own rules for when, where, how, and with whom your teen may drive.
- Empower your teen. Being a passenger in another teen’s car can put your teen at risk. Peer pressure among teens can be both positive and negative. Reinforce how important it is that your teen speaks up in dangerous situations.
- Exert positive peer pressure. Encourage other parents to set appropriate rules for their teens so you can present a unified front.
- Practice what you preach. Your teen is more likely to e a calm and courteous driver, wear a seat belt, and follow the rules of the road if they see you do the same.
NYS LAW: * A junior driver under the age of 18 cannot operate a vehicle that has more than 2 passengers who are under the age of 21, unless a parent rides in the vehicle. Feel free to have your child come and visit me to talk about safe driving. ~Trooper Jensen
Now more than ever, young teens are experimenting with street drugs. Ranging from legal prescribed medications, to illegal “club drugs.” Of these illegal substances, Marijuana and Huffing seem to be on the rise. Huffing is inhaling anything from nail polish remover to the empty whipped cream can. This may not seem serious, but the effects of these inhalants are devastating. Possible effects include sudden death, suffocation, slurred speech, visual hallucinations, severe mood swings, and violent behavior. Recently, research has shown that 60% of teens on drugs use Marijuana as their “drug of choice.” Marijuana is normally smoked and comes from the plant cannabis sativa. Within minutes of inhaling marijuana smoke, the individual’s heart begins beating more rapidly, and the person’s blood vessels in the eyes expand, making them look red. Possible effects include violent mood swings, impaired coordination, increased appetite, and possible addiction. Not only are teens abusing these illegal drugs, some teens are now experimenting with prescribed medications. As a result, parents need to be aware of the dangers and precautions to take when dealing with their kids and drugs. First, get involved in your teen’s life. Know where he/she is going, and who they are with at all times. Make sure there will be a responsible adult to supervise. Encourage your teen to stay active, and check into after-school programs. Second, be aware of what is going on around you; find out what the “drug of choice” might be, or what’s “hot.” The key to keeping your teen from experimenting is to know what ‘s happening, figure out why, and set rules he/she must follow. Surprisingly, teens report not wanting to try drugs for the simple reason of not disappointing mom or dad. Parents that may need certain medications commonly abused by young teens should keep track of them and also keep them locked up. Parents should also always remember that it is never too late to talk to their teen. Back to Top
North Collins Central School District
2045 School Street
North Collins, NY 14111
(716) 337-0101
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