Safe in the World
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Page 6
Do not improvise locks that trap occupants or teach a child to hide from a fire alarm. The correct response depends on the building and official plan. In a real emergency, follow emergency instructions rather than pausing to finish a teaching exercise or collect belongings. A Family Example A family discovered that a child could open a supposedly inaccessible latch. They asked for appropriate advice, reviewed the whole access route, and checked that protection did not block emergency escape. The discovery led to a practical change rather than another warning to the child. A Practical Step Review one high-risk area today. Identify the responsible adult, the physical protection, the maintenance check, and the emergency contact route. Are we relying on a rule the child remembers, when the situation also needs a reliable adult or environmental safeguard? We Stop and Cross with Support We can practise what “stop” means in a safe place. I wait beside my adult at the crossing. My adult checks traffic and the crossing signal before we move. We cross together when it is safe. Explore together: what changes between the pictures, and what help does the adult offer? Looking without answering is welcome too. Follow the child’s response rather than expecting the illustrated ending. 1. 2. 3. 4. 6
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Recognize help without relying only on appearance Practise a short message such as “I need help finding my family,” or show an appropriate contact card. A uniform alone is not a guarantee of safety. A known staffed desk is a more concrete arrangement than “find a nice person.” T each the child not to go to an isolated area, vehicle, or another destination with someone claiming to help. Adults should confirm the venue’s safe reunification process. The child’s plan supplements supervision rather than replacing it. Keep the adult response ready Carry an up-to-date photograph and useful contact information. If the child is missing, alert emergency services promptly when there is risk and inform venue staff. Give accurate information and follow the coordinated response; do not wait for a tracking app to solve the problem. After reunion, address immediate health and comfort needs first. Review the supervision and environment later without blaming the child for not performing the practice perfectly under stress. A Family Example At a shopping center, a family visited the staffed help desk together and practised showing a contact card with permission. The adults remained beside the child. They also learned the venue’s missing-child procedure before continuing the visit. A Practical Step For the next busy venue, identify the help location, the child’s accessible message, and the adults’
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Practice A safe, ordinary request to rehearse while adults remain present. Updates How contact details and availability will be checked. Essential Emergency Information Store securely but accessibly for responsible caregivers. Do not postpone emergency reporting to fill in the sheet. Identity and contacts Name and current contact routes for responsible caregivers. Communication How the child understands information and expresses needs. Assistance Specific mobility, sensory, or other support required. Relevant health information Current essential information and where the professional care plan is kept. Local plan The official response for this hazard, helper, route, and backup. Review date Who maintains this information and when it was last checked. A Worked Plan: A Short Visit to a Busy Place Map adult responsibilities before leaving In this fictional example, two parents plan a short supermarket visit. They identify the exit, an appropriate quieter area, the route back to transport, and who supervises the child while the other pays. “We will both watch” is replaced by a clear handover: one named adult remains responsible until the other explicitly takes over. Prepare communication and the actual route The family shows a brief sequence: travel, collect a few items, pay, go home. A familiar help or break message stays accessible. The adults explain what can change, such as a qu
Safe in the World is a practical guide to building safety and independence without creating constant fear.
The book covers roads, parking areas, wandering, water and home safety, screens and transitions, privacy, bodies and sexuality, trusted people, separation in public places, transportation, bullying, online contact, money, emergencies, sirens, and evacuation. Families will learn how to create clear safety plans, teach essential skills gradually, and adapt support to the child’s communication and developmental needs.
Includes practical tools and illustrated social stories.
Digital PDF edition. Written by Moses Ovadia.