Did you know to ...

Did you know to ...

... write emergency contact numbers at the back of your children's car seats in case you get into an accident? If you are in an accident and are unconscious but your children are ok, emergency workers will know who to contact to take care of your children.
... list your emergency contact person's numbers in your cellphone under E-mergency or I-C-E (in case of emergency)?
... (for those with camera phones or digital cameras) to take a picture of your child when you will be going to a crowded place like theme parks? Should your child get lost or you get separated, you will know for sure what they are wearing.
... to teach your children how to use the pay phone to make a collect call?

These were some safety tips that were given to our MOPS group. A lady from Safety Kids, Inc. came to talk to us about keeping our kids safe. She gave a lot of tips - but the ones above were the ones that stuck with me because these were things I had not done yet.

Other notable tips from her:
1. Tell kids that there are no secrets kept in the family.
2. Get kids to practice dialing. Let them call you on the phone. This will give them the assurance that you are always only a phone call away.
3. Teach them to always check first with Mom or Dad before doing anything. Make this a habit and it will keep your kids safe.
4. When in a store and you lose sight of your child, scream his name. Become a lionness! When you cannot find your child, immediately announce that you are missing a child. The store will lock down all its doors immediately.
5. Teach your child that should you get separated at the store, to march up to the counter and say "I lost my mommy. My name is ______. Her name is ________." And tell your child to never go out the door.
6. Do not be afraid to be an obnoxious mom when it comes to your kids' safety. When your son wants to go to the men's bathroom, stay right at the door and keep talking to him. Without calling out his name, yell out to him to ask how he's doing. Yell to him to tell him that you want him to know that Mom is right by the door waiting for him. If the bathroom seems empty before coming in, yell to ask if anyone is in there. If no one answers, don't be afraid to enter and check.