Tools & Resources

Phone Safety Tips

Click here to view the Phone Safety Tips.

Internet Safety Tips

Click here to view the Internet Safety Tips.

Bike Safety Tips

Click here to view the Biking Safety Tips

Keep a corded landline phone in your house.

You and your family are safer with a landline phone because you have a direct line to emergency services. As soon as 911 picks up the phone, they know your exact address and can send help right away. And, if you have a home security system, it hooks directly to the emergency services you need.

Click here to learn more.

Tips for Kids’ Phone Safety

• Practice what to do in an emergency with your kids—teach them to dial 911.
• Program or post phone numbers of your local police, fire department, poison control, and other rescuers.
• Make sure kids know their area code and phone number by heart.
• Have kids memorize a relative or friend’s phone number in case you aren’t reachable.
• Teach kids how to make a collect call in case kids are away from home and need to reach you urgently. Note: Collect calls will only work when calling a landline.
• Teach kids never to give out their phone number or address to strangers or to tell callers they are home alone.
• Make sure kids know to tell you if someone on the phone makes them feel uncomfortable in any way.

• Know where your child is going online, just as you would make sure you knew where your child is going to be after school.
• Teach kids they should only go on the Internet with your permission.
• Make sure kids know they should never give out their name, address, or any other personal information.
• Make sure kids know never to send a photo to anyone they meet online or agree to meet face-to-face with them. Let them know the risks—they may not be talking to the person they think they’re talking to.
• Teach kids to tell you if anyone online asks to meet them or makes them feel uncomfortable in any way.
• Use the Internet with your kids and teach them how to use the Internet wisely.

There are also several programs and software on the market that can set Internet restrictions for your kids, including Net Nanny and Access Control. These programs can be found at most computer software stores.

For kids

• Make sure kids wear a helmet and dress in bright colors
• Make sure the helmet fits snugly and is low enough on the forehead that it will protect if the child fell forward.
• Practice how to get to a phone and call 911 for help
• If biking at night, make sure there are lights and reflectors
• Teach them to bike with friends rather than alone so someone can get help if needed.
• Make sure kids know their full name, address, and phone number in case they get lost.
• Make sure they have water with them on a hot day.

For adults

• Always, always, always wear an ANSI-approved helmet, eyewear, and gloves.
• Wear brightly colored or reflective colors.
• Plan for the commute and try not to carry to much in a backpack as it can affect your balance.
• Always let someone know of your planned route to work
• Carry an ID
• Leave yourself plenty of time for winds, road conditions etc.
• Pre-ride the route before doing it on work day in traffic
• Arrange for a place to shower or clean-up in advance
• Find a friend/co-worker to do it together...for motivation and safety.
• Do NOT wear headphones while riding. It’s very dangerous because you may not hear cars behind you or things outside your peripheral vision
• Stay hydrated. Take at least one clean water bottle per hour with you and drink before you are thirsty. Make sure the bottle is clean because bacteria can build up after use.
• Learn how to fix a flat tire and bring a spare tube and tools just in case.