Capistrano Unified Asks Families to Talk to Their Children About Safety

We want to ensure that all of our students are aware of strategies to stay safe in our community and we are asking our families to remind children about safe practices on the way to and from school. The following information is excerpted from a child safety website at WWW.McGruff.org.
There are a number of basic safety rules kids can follow that will increase their awareness and lessen their chance of being harmed.

• Children should not get into a car or go anywhere with any person unless their parents have told them specifically that it’s okay. CUSD students may only ride home with parents or individuals listed on the emergency card. If you have a carpool, please inform the office to update the emergency card.

• If someone follows your child on foot or in a car, he/she should stay away from him or her. Don’t go near the car or get inside. Get to a crowded, well-lit place where others can help.
• Don’t go anywhere with a stranger. Don’t respond to anyone they don’t know well even if the person asks for directions, help to look for a lost puppy, or tells them that their mother or father is in trouble and that he or she will take them to their parents.
• If someone tries to take them somewhere, quickly get away from him or her and yell: “This man (woman) is trying to take me away,” or “this person is not my father (or mother).”
• Kids should always use the buddy system. Go with a friend, never alone.
• Work out a safe route to school. Choose the quickest way with the fewest street crossings and use intersections with crossing guards. Whenever possible, stay away from parks, vacant lots, fields, and other places where there aren't many people around.
• Children should memorize their home phone number and address as well as parents' work and cell phone numbers. If they don’t have them memorized write these numbers on a card and put it in a safe place.
• If children see something that doesn’t seem right, like a car they don't recognize driving around your block again and again, tell an adult right away.