5 Important Back to School Safety Tips
Back to School can be a time of dread for children and young adults while a time of joy for parents, but there are a few important safety tips to keep in mind. While there is no shortage of tips and advice that address safety while traveling to and from school, don’t overlook the safety and security beyond the journey. Take a look at the following back-to-school tips, and if you have any questions, give us a call at Advanced Lock and Security.
Keep Belongings Safe & Secure
School lockers may not be the most secure place to keep valuable items. Remember, not all pad locks are the same, so it is important to choose a padlock that cannot easily be broken, picked, or otherwise removed without the proper key or combination. As older students may rely on a laptop for their education, it’s a good idea to invest in an additional lock box that can be placed inside a locker. We also recommend that you maintain records of things like serial numbers and other identifying information of important items. It may seem like common sense, but it is also worth mentioning that valuable belongings should never be left unattended and accessible or otherwise unsecured.
Make Sure Children Return to a Secure Household
Children returning from school often get home before parents and arrive to an empty house. This makes it all the more important to ensure that there are no unwanted guests present. One of the best ways to ensure children return to a secure household is to invest in a quality alarm system. At Advanced Lock and Security, we specialize in a wide variety of home security systems to include systems that are monitored around the clock. Not only will this provide you with peace of mind while you are away from your children, a quality home security system is great for protecting the entire family at night.
Make Sure House Keys Remain Secure
Since children often return home to an empty house, they naturally have a key. Younger children can often get distracted by the splendor of the world and lose track of a house key. If this happens, it is better to have the locks changed or rekeyed than it is to risk the wrong person gaining access to your home. A hidden key, or accessible window is an old favorite, but we don’t recommend either since watchful eyes can easily learn of this ‘secret.’ Upgrading to a digital combination lock, which can even be set to operate a garage door, is a great solution, and it can be easily reprogrammed if a code is ever compromised.
Make Sure Children’s Rides Are Secure
Back-to-school is an exciting time, but it is also a time to exercise extra caution. If your child is getting a ride home from school, make sure that the person giving them a ride confirms that your child has safely entered the home. As everyone gets acquainted with a new schedule, it can be easy for younger children to get confused or manipulated by a stranger. We recommend that your child be armed with a secret password for anyone who says they are there to pick them up. Involve your child in this as it will make it more fun for them and less likely that they will forget to ask for the password or forget it. Make sure the password is as secure as a lock from Advanced Lock and Security.
Use the Buddy System
Whether your child will be walking to school, riding their bike, or even taking the bus, make sure they have a buddy to accompany them for the journey. There is strength in numbers, particularly when it comes to children going to and from school. Make sure your child knows not to stray from their buddy, and if there are a number of children in your neighborhood making the same trip, become acquainted with their parents and keep their contact information handy. At Advanced Lock and Security, the safety, security, and happiness of our community is our top priority, so keep these back-to-school-tips in mind, and give us a call if you have any questions.
