Stranger Danger Safety Tips from Constable Kenny Koala

We asked our friend Constable Kenny Koala for some stranger danger safety tips for all our Gungahlin children to be aware of and this is what he shared with us.

STRANGER DANGER – SAFETY TIPS

• Explain to your child what is a stranger?
• Explain to your child that not all strangers are bad people. For example we encourage children when lost at the shops to go to a Shop Keeper, Policeman, Security Guard, Information Desk, Fireman, Ambulance Officer etc. All of these people wear a uniform and have a name tag. Even though your child may not know these people, they know they can help them.
• Don’t take anything from strangers (lollies or money) or go near a car if a stranger says they have a ‘cute puppy’ for them to see.
• Don’t go anywhere with someone you don’t know
• Stay more than an arm’s reach away from strangers. If you are approached by a stranger, get help straight away. If it’s at school tell a teacher straight away, if it’s outside of school tell mum or dad straight away. Always remember to tell them the truth of what happened not what you think might have happened.
• If a stranger grabs you scream as loud as you can ‘HELP, HELP, I DON’T KNOW YOU.’
• Tell your child to run to a ‘safe place’ like a shop, police station or school and NEVER get into a car with someone they don’t know.

• Trust your body, just like when we get lost our body starts to react in a certain way. We might start to shake, our heart starts to race, and we might get goose bumps. Our body is telling us something isn’t right here. Get help straight away!
• When walking home think about using the buddy system. Walk with a friend.
• Consider having a family password that only members of the family know. If a stranger was to say to your child that ‘mum or dad said I am to give you a lift home’ your child can reply ‘what is the password’ knowing only trusted family members know the password.

ACT Policing website with section related to Stranger Danger https://police.act.gov.au/safety-and-security/child-safety#stranger

Also check out the following video.