How Can Parents Help Children Learn About Keeping Themselves Safe?

Fire Safety

• Althhough parents can be prepared for emergencies by ensuring that the family home is equipped with smoke alarms with fresh batteries, fire may still break out. Parents should formulate an evacuation plan that can be rehearsed in advance of an emergency. Children should be taught which exits they can use and how to check to see if an exit is unsafe by briefly testing the temperature of the door knob. Children living in apartment buildings should understand that elevators are off limits during emergencies and that they should instead use the nearest flight of stairs. A meeting place that is easy to access and well away from the hazards of a burning building should be designated, according to the website Kids Health. A fire drill should include instruction for crawling -- instead of walking or running upright -- to avoid smoke inhalation.

Stranger Danger

• Vigilant parents rarely let their children out of sight in public, but the briefest distraction may serve to separate children from the most watchful mother. Children may be wary of strange adults, particularly if they appear unfriendly, but many child predators disguise themselves as amiable and approachable, and may try to tempt children with treats or a task such as finding a lost pet, according to Kids Health. Children should be taught to shout "No!" in a loud voice and get away from the stranger if this occurs. If Children should be taught to seek a uniformed official for assistance if they become separated from their parents.

Car Safety

• Parents can teach children safety on the road by setting a good example. Wearing a seat belt for every car trip reduces the risk of injury in the event of an automobile accident, which is the leading cause of injury and death to children, according to HealthyChildren.org, a website of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Kids under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat, and all passengers should remain calm while the vehicle is in motion to avoid distracting the driver.

Playground Safety

• While the playground can provide children with hours of fun, they should be taught how to use the equipment safely to prevent injuries. Equipment that is wet or hot can cause slips and burns. Backpacks, bikes or extra baggage should be left off of the playground so that no one trips over them. Kids Health recommends that parents teach children to use all equipment -- including swings and slides -- properly, and that children not be allowed to engage in horseplay while on playground equipment. Proper supervision by a parent can prevent injuries.

Firearm Safety

• Owning a gun is a personal decision, but all firearms and ammunition should be stored in separate places out of chldren's reach. You should also teach your children what to do if they encounter a gun at a friend's home or in a public place. You can instruct them to stop all activity, avoid touching the gun, leave the room and tell an adult. In advance of your childrens' visit to another home, you can ask the homeowners if they own firearms and if so how and where they are stored, according to HealthyChildren.org.

Emergency Situations

• Parents can teach their children to recognize the difference between minor problems and true emergencies. Fire, an intruder or an unconscious family member warrants a call to 911, and children should understand how to make the call. Your children should be taught their residential address, which they might need to provide when making a 911 call -- especially if using a cell phone. A list of emergency phone numbers left near a house phone can help kids reach the right people in case of an emergency, according to Kids Health.