Cellphone tips for Parents

CELL PHONE TIPS FOR PARENTS

Here’s advice on how parents might prevent “sexting” and other sexually motivated online activities:
Talk to children and teens about cell phone and Internet safety.

Let them know that photographs sent via cell phone or the Internet are not private.
Set behavior expectations such as what is appropriate in mobile communication.

Enforce a rule that cell phones and laptops must be left in a public area with the parents/guardian before the teen or child goes to bed. This prevents temptation to log on or chat late at night.

Internet and cell phone accounts should always be in the parents’ name.
• Parents should be in charge of all passwords and parental controls.
• Contact your cell phone provider to learn more about restrictions parents can place on cell phones.
• BEFORE YOU HIT SEND:Here are some tips teens should consider before sending photos or text messages: Don’t assume text messages will remain private – 40 percent of teens and young adults said they have shared messages that were intended to be private.
Cyberspace is forever. Once something is sent via cell phone or Internet, it exists permanently, which could cause problems when applying to a college or for a job. Parents, teachers, friends and enemies can find those photos or messages Even if a racy message or post is later deleted by the sender, it may have been passed on and posted by dozens of others.
Remember that nothing is truly anonymous

Online Tools to Discover Where Sexual Predators and Criminals Live in Your Neighborhood

Parents, teachers and other guardians who are concerned about the safety of their children can often reduce the risks their children face by educating themselves as to where sexual predators and criminals reside in their neighborhoods. Registered sex offenders are listed in a national and/or state database, available to the public online, as well as on criminal background check websites. Listings usually include their full name and home address, letting parents type in their zip code and find out which homes in their neighborhood conceal potential threats to their children. Here are several online tools that can be used to search for sexual predators in your area.


Family Watchdog: Family Watchdog maintains that “awareness is your best defense.” Users can search multiple states at once if they want to search by location. The site also lets users search by name if they are trying to track down a particular offender. In addition, this site posts information about food and drug recalls and product recalls.

CriminalCheck.com: Search by name or zip code at CriminalCheck.com to find registered sex offenders in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. If users search by zip code, they can view a map of their area that pinpoints the exact location of sex offenders.

FamilyBeacon.com: This site gives a history of sex offender laws in addition to providing a comprehensive search. Users who suspect their neighbor of being a sex offender can type in their name or address to find out if they are listed. Otherwise, users can search by zip code or city.

National and Governmental Sites
These websites are organized by national and/or governmental agencies, making your search more official.

National Alert Registry The motto of the National Alert Registry is to “be aware, be alert, be safe.” Currently, the registry includes over 500,000 listings that include names, addresses and even photos of the sex offenders. Users can register their neighborhood or area of interest with the registry to receive RED ALERTs by e-mail whenever a new name is added.

Megan’s Law Nationwide Registries and Links: This page features a Megan’s Law Report Card, which grades states on how accessible they make sexual predator information to the public and on the number of registrants vs. the number of actual offenders. The site also displays links to sex offender registries by state and provides users with an easy way to report child pornography.

Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Registry: This website is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice and lets users search for violent sex offenders who may prey on adults as well as children. There is also a search for general sex offenders who have a criminal past with minors. Users can search by region, state, zip code, name or conduct a nationwide search.

HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS

The holiday season is a time for crimes of opportunity. Keep these tips in mind this season:

Don’t leave packages in plain view in your vehicle – put them in your trunk.

If you will not be home for deliveries, have your items delivered to a neighbor who will be home.

Hold on to your money: Pickpockets have an easier chance to steal from you when shops are crowed. Always carry your purse tucked tightly under your arm, ladies. And for you men . . . it can happen to you too! Put your money and only necessary cards in your front pants pocket where it harder for a bad guy to get at it.

Don’t park in secluded or dark areas of the parking lot. Be patient and courteous while parking.

Try not to be the last to leave the store. Leave when the stores are still open and there are plenty of other shoppers in the parking lot.

Shopping with kids? Teach them to go to a store clerk or security guard if you get separated.

When you get home, remember this home safety reminder: Approximately 50% of all burglars enter the house via unlocked or open doors and/or windows. Keep all doors, including your garage door, closed and locked. Don’t display gifts where they can be seen from outside.

When out on the town:

With office parties and general Christmas celebrations, bars, restaurants and other venues that are often crowded during this season. Don't leave bags over the back of your chair and keep wallets and purses close to your body to make it more difficult for the pickpocket. Busy places makes it easier for the sneak thief, so be alert at all times. Make prior arrangements as to how you will get home. Avoid any potential disturbances on the street. Stay with friends if you can.

ALERT! ALERT1 HOT CARS

Safety Tips
To keep your kids safe:
Don't leave them in a car, which can quickly heat up, especially on a hot, sunny day.
Always lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can't get to them.
Warn your kids about playing in the car by themselves without adult supervision.
Install a trunk release mechanism, so that they can't get trapped in the trunk.
Get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about getting the groceries, etc., out of the car when you get home.
Make sure that child car providers and day care workers have a plan to make sure that kids aren't left in the day care providers car or van.

If you are afraid that you might leave your sleeping infant or toddler in their car seat when you get out of the car, place a reminder on the dashboard.
Also be on alert for cars that might have an unattended child left inside. If you see a child alone in a car, be sure to call 911 and help make sure the child gets out as soon as possible.

In addition to the risk of being abducted if they are left alone in a car, on a typical summer day, the temperature inside a car (even with the windows rolled down a little) can quickly rise above 120 to 140 degrees. Even on a relatively mild day, the temperature inside a car can get above 100 degrees. At those temperatures, kids are at great risk for heat stroke, which can lead to a high fever, dehydration, seizures, stroke and death.
If you don't think that it can happen to you or your kids, consider these descriptions from the death certificates of children from 1998 that were published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
A 9 month old died after being 'left strapped in child safety seat in a sweltering minivan for two hours - misunderstanding between child's parents resulted in the child being left alone in the van; one parent believed infant was at home with other'

A 6 month old 'baby died when accidentally left in hot car for 3 hrs, died when outside 90-degree temperatures rose to 130 degrees inside closed car, parents thought the other had carried the baby from the car to crib'

A 34 month old 'toddler who recently learned how to open a car door apparently climbed inside family station wagon while parent and sibling were in house'

A 23 month old died when a 'relative babysitting child, put child in car for trip to store, went back in house having forgotten something, was distracted by something on television, sat on couch to watch, fell asleep, woke up two hours later'

A 2 year old died after a 'parent left child in car after returning home from errand - was left for more than an hour'

A 2 year old 'child apparently slipped away from parents and siblings, fell asleep atop blanket in unlocked car in driveway of home, oldest sibling found child 40 minutes later'

Always Always thank about your children first!

lawnmower safety

Try to use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving forward if the handle is let go.
Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use ride-on mowers. Children younger than 12 years should not use walk-behind mowers.
Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) are worn while mowing.
Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Have anyone who uses a mower wear hearing and eye protection.
Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.
Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers.

New Year's Eve Safety Information

If you are the host of a part that serves alcoholic drinks, serve non alcoholic drinks as well.
Remember that beer and wine are just as intoxicating as hard liquor.
A 12oz can of beer, a 12oz wine cooler, a 5oz glass of wine and an ounce and a half of liquor contain the same amount of alcohol.

Safety tips for home heaters

Wood Stoves and FireplacesWood stoves should have adequate clearance (36'') from combustible surfaces, and proper floor support and protection.
Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time.
Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.
Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening, to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out, unwanted material from going in, and help prevent the possibility of burns to occupants.
Don't use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the chimney by overbuilding the fire.
Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. Never close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the house.

Furnace HeatingBe sure all furnace controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working condition.
Leave furnace repairs to qualified specialists. Do not attempt repairs yourself unless you are qualified.
Inspect the walls and ceiling near the furnace and along the chimney line. If the wall is hot or discolored, additional pipe insulation or clearance may be required.
Keep trash and other combustibles away form the heating system.


Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Place them in a metal container outside and well away from the house.
Never use a range or an oven as a supplementary heating device. Not only is it a safety hazard, it can be a source of potentially toxic fumes.
If you use an electric heater, do not overload the circuit. Only use extension cords that have the necessary rating to carry the amp load.
Avoid using electric space haters in bathrooms, or other areas where they may come in contact with water.
Be sure every level of your home has a WORKING SMOKE DETECTOR, and be sure to check and clean it on a monthly basis.

Safe Route to School Walking School Bus Program

At our last meeting we touched on the subject of walking and safety of our children and riding bikes in the neighborhood.
I sent off for some information on these subjects and came across the Safe Route to School Walking School Bus Program or SRTS. Oklahoma does have funding for this program and with rising gas prices this could be an answer to the school fuel problem. Here is the link if you would like to have more information on this program and please pass it on to those who would know how to use this information. http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/srts/index.php
A walking school bus is a group of children walking or riding their bikes to school with one or more adults. For many parents, safety concerns are reduced when adult supervision is provided.
CONTACT THE OKLAHOMA DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM 200 N.E. 21ST STREET, ROOM 2-C6 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73105-3024 Phone 522-3570 Email: srts@odot.org
or ODOT Field Division Office Headquarters (ask for the Traffic Engineer) Division 3 Ada (580)332-1526 The Division Engineer is Paul Rachel
Shawnee Interstate Maintenance #109 Superintendent: Jamie Price #382-1222
For More Information

City connect Channel 30

http://www.shawneeok.org/CityConnect Be sure to watch the latest City Connect Episode 8 aired on 2/29/2008. The topic of this episode is the Community Relations Officer in the City of Shawnee. Among other things the Community Relations Officers teach us about safety and crime prevention. From the web site for city connect.

KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE

A) Know where your children are.
Who they are going to be with, how they are getting where they are going,
and when they are going to be back home. Always get a phone number so that if you
to get in touch with them you can.
B) Set limits on where they can go.
C) Help them learn important phone numbers.
Make sure that they have your cell number written down.
D) Get to know their friends and their parents.
Invite them to your home,
your child's friends will have a lot of influence on them
and get to know their parents.
Something we always do is to tell our children that we love them.
you can go to the following site for more information
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/parents-teachers/