Thursday, October 24, 2019

Your child on-line, Safety tips

Teach your children to be safer both on-line
NetSmartzKids.org contains fun games and videos that each kids the importance of personal safety, internet privacy, computer viruses, instant messageing safety. To ensure a safe and positive experience for children, NetSmartzKids.org does not link to any outside sources. You can trust that this site is safe for your children.

Bullying on-line
For tips on what to look out for and to ensure that your child is not being bullied on-line, click here.

On-line Exploiter Victimizing Your Child?
Reduce the Risk
~Spend time with your children on-line. Have them teach you about their favorite on-line destinations.
~Keep the computer in a common room in the house, not in your child's bedroom. It is much more difficult for a computer-sex offender to communicate with a child when the computer screen is visible to a parent or another member of the household.
~Always maintain access to your child's on-line account and randomly check his/her e-mail. Be aware that your child could be contacted through the U.S. Mail. Be up front with your child about your access and reasons why.
~Find out what computer safeguards are utilized by your child's school, the public library, and at the homes of your child's friends. These are all places, outside your normal supervision, where your child could encounter an on-line predator.
~Instruct your children:
*to never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they met on-line and not to believe anything written to them about new 'friends' wanting to fly-drive out and meet.

*to never upload (post) pictures of themselves onto the Internet or on-line service to people they do not personally know or give out identifying information such as their name, home address, school name, or telephone number;

*to never download pictures from an unknown source, as there is a good chance there could be sexually explicit images or respond to messages or bulletin board postings that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or harassing;

For more information, visit FBI's Internet Safety website

Friday, May 3, 2019

Surviving a school shooting

Steps parents can take to ensure their childs survival in a mass shooting...

1. At home, discuss scenarios involving 'bad people' who are sick in the mind & want to hurt kids.
2. At home, conduct 'survival escape' drills away from danger and bad people:
        A. If close to the shooter: Drop, crawl and hide.
        B. If near the shooting:  Run, hide and barricade.
        C. If far from the shooting: Run, yell to sound the alarm and help hurt friends.
3. At school, request that the administration implement realistic protocols.
4. At school, have willing teachers practice 'immediate react' drills:
      A. If close to the shooter: Charge in, tackle him and command the children to run.
      B. If near the shooting: Direct children to move together, hide, barricade & call 911.
      C. If far: Calmly guide the children to a safe area, Look and listen for the shooter.

The above copyrighted material was compiled by Bruce Montoya. It is for educational and informational purposes only. All rights reserved 2012.


To watch a realistic training video entitled, "Run, Hide. Fight." click here.



Monday, April 29, 2019

radKIDS On...Inhalant Abuse


Inhalant Abuse refers to the deliberate inhalation or sniffing of fumes, vapors, or gases from common household products for the purpose of getting high. Also known as Huffing, Sniffing, Bagging, Chroming or Dusting, Inhalant Abuse is a dangerously overlooked form of substance abuse. According to The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, one in five kids in the U.S. will abuse inhalants by the eighth grade - the time that preteen experimentation with inhalants peaks. Children can die the very first time they intentionally inhale a product and it can also cause brain, liver or kidney damage or lead to the use of illegal drugs or alcohol.

While young people may have a hard time getting illegal drugs or alcohol, inhalants may be easier to attain. In addition to being easily accessible, they are cheap and often off the radar for most adults.

Products include: correction fluid, rubber cement, computer keyboard cleaners, gasoline, propane, nitrous oxide, butane, glue, marking pens, spray paint, hair spray, air fresheners, whipped cream, and cooking sprays.

Parents can keep their children safe and healthy by educating them about the dangers of Inhalant Abuse. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, research shows that kids who learn about the risk of substance abuse from their parents or caregivers are 50% less likely to use inhalants.

Tips for talking to your child: (5-12 years old)
~Discuss what fumes are and what effects they may have on a healthy body.
~Play a game, "Is it safe to smell or touch?"
~Read product lables together, discuss directions and answer questions honestly.
~Suggest opening windows or using fans when products call for proper ventilation.
~Monitor your child's activities and friends.
~Look for "teachable moments."

Some indicators of Inhalant Abuse to watch for are: changes in friends or interests, decline in school performance, disorientation, dazed appearance, slurred speech, coordination difficulties, chemical odor on clothes and breath, red spots or sores around nose/mouth, Paint or stains on face and hands, loss of appetite, lethargy, increase and intensity of headaches, excitability and irritability, empty lighters, spray cans, plastic bags, balloons or rags with chemical odors, empty pressurized whipped cream containers.

If you find someone unconscious or if you suspect a child is under the influence of an inhalant call 911 immediately. Keep him/her calm and in a well ventilated area to reduce cardiac stress. Call Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or the 1-800 number on the label of the product and ask for specific advice related to the product used.
Visit http://www.inhalant.org/ for more information

Friday, April 19, 2019

Abduction Prevention Tips

For general tips you can teach your children, to prevent an abduction, click here.

For detailed instruction, please consider signing up your child for our next session.