Our "Safety Tips" will be updated frequently so please bookmark and check back soon. If you think a specific topic should be addressed, please E-mail your suggestion to: chief@ptboro.com.
Halloween Safety
In a few weeks Point Pleasant will be invaded by ghosts and goblins (the friendly kind of course). It is important that you practice Halloween safety while you are having fun trick or treating. Here are a few safety suggestions you should read and pass on to you're parents;
- Make sure you can see through you're mask or make-up.
- Wear light colored costumes and/or wear reflective tape.
- Dress warmly as the evenings get chilly this time of year.
- Younger children should always go trick or treating with a parent or another adult.
- Older children should trick or treat in small groups of friends.
- Carry a flashlight and watch for traffic.
- Only go to houses with their outside lights on.
- NEVER go into a stranger's house for any reason.
- Make sure an adult examines candy before you eat it and NEVER eat candy that was not packaged when given to you.
- Let you're parents know who you will be trick or treating with and the route you will take.
BULLIES: A Serious Problem For Children
Bullying behavior may seem rather insignificant considering the problems of guns and drugs in our schools. Bullying is often dismissed as part of growing up. Bullies often cause serious problems that schools, families and grown-ups ignore. Teasing at bus stops, taking another child's lunch money, insults, threats, kicking and hitting is all fair game to a bully. Bullying is actually an early form of aggressive, violent behavior. Fears and anxieties about bullies can cause some victims to avoid school, carry a weapon for protection, or commit even more violent activity.
The Victim
Although anyone can be a bullies target, the victim is often singled out because of his or her psychological traits more than his or her physical traits. A typical victim is likely to be shy, sensitive, and perhaps anxious or insecure. Some chidren are picked on for physical reasons such as being overweight, being physically small, suffering from a disability or belonging to a different race or religious faith.
The Bully
Some bullies are outgoing, aggressive, active and expressive. They get their way by brute force or by openly harassing someone. Some bullies may act out of feelings of insecurity, anger or loneliness. Other bullies are more reserved and manipulative. They try to control by smooth-talking, saying the "right thing" and lying. This type of bully gets his or her power through cunning, manipulation and deception. As different as the above examples are, all bullies have some characteristics in common;
- are only concerned with their own pleasure
- they want power over others
- are willing to use and abuse other people to get what they want
- find it difficult to see things from someone else's perspective
What You Can Do
- Listen to children. Encourage them to talk about school, friends and social events so that you can identify any problems they may be having.
- Take childrens complaints seriously. Probing a minor complaint may uncover a more severe problem. Children are often afraid or ashamed to tell anyone they are being bullied, so listen when they do.
- Watch for symptoms that they are victims of a bully, such as withdrawal, grade drop, torn clothing or needing extra money.
- Tell the school or other organization immediately if you suspect your child is being bullied.
- Work with other parents to ensure that the children in your neighborhood are supervised closely on their way to and from school.
- Help your children learn the social skills he or she needs to make friends. A confident resourceful child who has friends is less likely to be bullied or bully someone else.
- Teach children ways to resolve arguments without violent words or actions.
- Praise children's kindness toward others. Let children know that kindness is valued.
- Teach children self-protection skills, how to walk confidently and to stay alert about what's going on around them and to stand up for themselves.
- Provide opportunities for your child to discuss what is going on in their life. Perhaps while watching T.V., playing games or walking in the park.
Do Not bully your child. Use non-physical consistently enforced discipline measures as opposed to ridiculing, yelling or ignoring your children when they misbehave.
Buckle Up Point Pleasant
Although many people are "buckling up" on long road trips, it is the short trips, at low speeds, that lead to the greatest number of crashes.
Consider the following;
- About 75% of all crashes occur within 25 miles of home.
- Sixty percent of fatal crashes or crashes with injuries occur on roads with posted speed limits of 40 mph or less.
A seat belt can only protect you if it is used-and used properly.
Provide enough seat belts for each person traveling in your vehicle. Make sure all seat belts are working properly.
Show you care. Ask passengers to buckle up! Most people will gladly buckle up if the driver asks them to.
Do not start your car until all seat belts are fastened.
Adjust your seat belt so it fits snugly over your hip bones. It should cross your lap low on the hip, not high across your stomach.
A shoulder belt should go over your shoulder and across your body diagonally. It should never be worn under your arm.
Children in rear facing child safety seats should not be placed in the front seat of cars with passenger air bags. The impact of a deploying air bag on a rear facing child seat could injure the child.
If you won't "Buckle Up" for yourself -"Buckle Up" for the people that love you.
Rabies Still Present in Ocean County
The Ocean County Health Department recently gave us this update on rabies and we thought it would be a good idea to share it with you.
In 1999, 35 cases of rabies occurred in Ocean County, the highest yearly number since 1992. We can expect 20-35 cases of rabies in animals this year in Ocean County. These cases will mostly be in raccoons, but we may see disease in other mammals that can be infected by raccoons such as skunks, cats, bats, foxes, groundhogs and others.
Protect yourselves, your families and your pets by taking these precautions;
- Be sure pets are routinely vaccinated against rabies.
- Do not approach, handle or feed stray animals, especially cats.
- Call your local police or animal control officer if you see a stray,
hurt or dead animal in your home or yard.
- A raccoon that is acting strangely during the day (stumbling, acting too tame or too aggressively) may be exhibiting signs that it is rabid.
- BATS CARRY RABIES! Rabies treatment is recommended if you have any contact with a bat.
- If you find a wound on your pet, take him/her to the veterinarian immediately.
- If bitten by a stray or wild animal try to get a description and location of the animal. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek immediate medical attention.
- Report all contacts with wild or stray animals to the Ocean County Health Department at 732-341-9700, ext. 7502.
Swimmer Safety
Summer is upon us! The Fourth of July is almost here! Independence Day is a celebration of parades, barbecues and fireworks. Unfortunately, playing with fireworks can lead to tragedy. According to the Center for Disease Control 13,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for injuries caused by malfunctions and careless use of fireworks. Over 40 percent of those injured are children under the age of 15.
Injuries occur when fireworks explode in the hand, are dropped on a foot or explode in a pocket. Bottle rockets can be extremely dangerous. Even sparklers can injure you! These seemingly harmless fireworks can burn at more than 1000 degrees and can very easily ignite clothing.
Remember, New Jersey is one of ten states which bans all use of fireworks. The safest plan for enjoying Fourth of July fireworks is to attend an official fireworks celebration. These celebrations are held in our area every year. If you need information please contact the Point Pleasant Police Department at 892-0060.
Independence Day is a time when we have fun celebrating the birth of our country. If you have any questions about the safety of your celebration please call us at 892-0060. We will be only too happy to help you have a fun, yet safe, Fourth of July celebration.
Summer also brings the hot weather and we all seek relief from the heat by enjoying whatever open body of water is available. You do not have to look very hard to find an open and inviting swimming pool in Point Pleasant. These swimming pools are also open and inviting to our children and I believe it would be to their benefit if you would review this list of pool safety tips;
- Install a self closing/latching gate around the pool so that children do not have direct access from the house.
- Alarm every house door that leads to the pool so that you are alerted if a child leaves the house and enters the pool area, (this is a requirement in the Borough of Point Pleasant).
- Keep life saving equipment such as a pole, rope and life preserver in the pool area. Hang them from a fence or pole so that people will not trip over them.
- Do not allow children to play in the pool area. Remove all toys and anything else that might attract a child.
- Never leave children unsupervised around the pool for even a moment. Do not be distracted by doorbells, phones or chores. If you have to leave the pool area take the children with you.
- During pool parties designate a physically fit adult that can swim to watch the children.
- Teach your children swimming skills as early as possible.
- Do not rely on floatation devises to protect your child. They can very easily slip out from underneath an active child.
Have a Safe and Happy Summer.
Would Your Child Know What To Do If....
He got lost in a shopping mall? A nice, friendly stranger offered her a ride home after school? A babysitter wanted to play a secret game that no one would know about? A friend dared him to hitchhike?
START WITH THE BASICS
- Rehearse with your child his or her full name, address and phone
number, including area code and how to make emergency calls from home and public phones.
- Teach your child to go to a store clerk or security guard and ask
for help if you become seperated in a store or shopping mall. Tell them never to go into the parking lot alone. When possible accompany your child to the rest room.
- Tell your child never to accept gifts or rides from someone he or
she does not know well. Your child should not go anywhere with another adult, even one who says you have sent them. Adopt a family codeword to be used if you have to ask a third party to pick up your child. Make sure your child understands never, ever hitchhike.
- Teach your children that no one, not even someone they know, has the right to touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Tell them they have the right to say "NO".
Ask your child to commit to the following rules:
- Before going anywhere, I will get permission from my parents by
telling them where I am going, who I am going with, how I am getting there, who is going with me and how I will be getting back.
- I will get permission from my parents before getting into a car or
leaving with anyone, including people I know. I will not change my plans or accept money or gifts without telling my parents. If someone offers me drugs, I will tell a grown up immediately.
- I will use the "buddy" system whenever possible and will avoid
playing or going places myself.
- I will not keep it a secret if a grown up touches me in a way that
makes me feel confused, but I will tell a grown-up that I trust. Also, I will not feel guilty if it happens because it is not my fault.
- I will trust my feelings and will share them with grown ups that I
trust. They care about me and I am not alone.
- If I feel unsafe, I will never give up and I will continue to ask for
help until I get it.
- I will keep myself safe because I AM A SPECIAL PERSON and I deserve it!
I, _______________________ promise my parent(s) that I will always obey these rules.
Witnessed by parents;________________________________________
Kids on the Internet
- Keep the computer in a main family area such as in a family room, kitchen or living room, not in your child's bedroom.
- Make sure your child does not spend all his/her time on the computer.
- People, not computers, should be his/her best friend.
- Teach your child not to share personal information with anyone online. Name, address telephone number or school should never be given out. Make sure your child doesn't send anyone his/her picture, credit card or bank information without your permission.
- Learn enough about computers so you can enjoy them with your kids.
- Watch your child when they are online and monitor the sites and areas they access.
- Make sure your child feels comfortable coming to you with questions about their online experiences and activities.
- Keep kids out of chatrooms! Make sure your child never responds to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening or makes them feel uncomfortable. Encourage them to tell you when someone writes something that makes them feel worried or uncomfortable.
- Make sure your child notifies you if he/she sees distasteful pictures or language on the internet.
- Discuss with your child what they do and enjoy online.
- Help them find a balance between the computer and other activities.
- Make sure your child uses caution when someone offers something for nothing, such as gifts and money.
- Get to know their "online friends" just as you get to know their neighborhood and school friends.
- Make sure your child never gives out his/her password, even to a close friend.
- Have them change their password frequently.
Bicycle Safety
Learning to ride a bike is an exhilarating adventure, but it can also be an experience filled with trepidation and fear. I recommend that you and your children follow these safety guidelines that I am sure will make your experience more pleasurable.
- Always wear a bike helmet when riding a bike. It is the law in New Jersey that children under 14 must wear a bicycle helmet.
- Restrict cycling to sidewalks, paths and driveways until children can show how well they ride and can follow basic rules of the road (usually around age 9).
Teach children, 9 and older, these basic safety rules:
- Stop, look and listen before riding out into traffic from driveway, sidewalk, alley or parking lot. Look left, right and left again. When you're sure there is no traffic enter the roadway.
- Always ride on the right with traffic.
- Obey all stop signs and red lights, (children under 12 should walk, not ride their bikes through intersections).
- Look back and yield to traffic coming from behind before turning left at intersections.
REMEMBER:
- Children, ages 6 to 12, are at the greatest risk for bicycle accidents and injury to the head is the most serious result.
- Children's helmets adjust to growing heads. The should fit comfortably and not move around on the head.
- Your child might not think helmets are "cool" and you might think they cost too much but a helmet can save your child from a serious head injury in a fall or collision. Children copy adults, so if you ride wear a helmet!
Back to Point Borough Police Menu
|
