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Be Safe – Stay Safe

There are a number of categories for Being Safe and Staying Safe. One of the important thing to remember is you are never alone.

Crisis Center

Depression Suicide Texting Services

Feeling depressed, suicidal, or just need someone to talk to, but you feel uncomfortable talking on the phone and would rather text? Just send a text to 741741 any day and time 24/7/365 someone will be there to text you back. Free service for anyone.

Synergy Services

Synergy Services offers a 24 Hour Youth Crisis Hotline to talk about any need you may have.

Crisis Call Center

Crisis Call Center’s 24/7 crisis line provides a safe source of support for individuals in any type of crisis.

MHAH Compassionate Ear Warmline

1-866-WARM-EAR (1-866-927-6327)
Open daily from 4pm-10pm

I Feel Like Hurting Myself

National Suicide Hotline 1-800-442-HOPE (4673) www.hopeline.com

Someone Touched Me Inappropriately

Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA)

  • 816-531-0233 or 913-642-0233  web: mocsa.org

I’m Being Abused or Neglected

Kansas Child Protective Services

Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline

I’m Being Bullied or Cyberbullied

CyberTipline

I Have a Bully

Find out all about bullying, cyber-bullying, and prevention’s at stopbullying.gov

I took drugs or drank alcohol

The National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Center

Poison Control

Kansas Poison Control

Missouri Poison Control

I Ran Away From Home or am Homeless

Boys Town National Hotline

National Runaway Switchboard

Synergy Services offers a 24-Hour Youth Crisis Hotline

In Case of an Emergency

Dial 911 immediately if you are experiencing a medical emergency or are in danger, or feel like hurting yourself or others. You can now text your message to 911 if unable to speak in an emergency.

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Home Safety Checklist

There are many ways to make your home safer. We are trying to make it simple. Just review the checklist below with your parents or guardian.

In Case of an Emergency, Call 911

Poison Control

  • Kansas Poison Control:  1-800-222-1222
  • Missouri Poison Control:  1-888-268-4195

Learn Emergency Contact Number

  • for your parent or guardian
  • and at least two other trusted adults (relative, neighbor, church member, etc.)

Memorize Your Address

Have an escape plan and regular fire drills

It is important that your family has a plan that all members understand. You or your brothers and sisters may need help getting out of your home, and you may not know how to escape or what to do.

  • Have a plan for young children who cannot get outside by themselves. In your plan, talk about who will help each child get out safely.
  • Know two ways out of every room. It is important for your family to know two ways out of every room, in case one exit is blocked or dangerous to use.
  • Choose a meeting place outside the home. You and your brothers and sisters should know what to do when they hear a smoke alarm and there is no adult around. You and your family should practice going to an outside meeting place. Teach your family to never go back inside a building that is on fire, even to save a pet.

Learn More: U.S. Fire Administration

Need smoke alarms – Many local fire departments offer free smoke alarms to help reduce injury, death and property loss caused by fire. Certain fire departments can install the alarms and talk to the household members about fire safety tips. For more information about the free smoke alarm program or other helpful fire safety tips, call your local fire department.

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Helpful Safety Links

Learn how to Be Internet Awesome, learn lots of fun do’s and don’ts about how to be safe on the internet!

NEVER share these things ONLINE:

  • Social Security number
  • Birth date
  • Home address
  • Phone number
  • State of birth (which can be used to obtain social security numbers and other identity information)
  • Your location

  • Parents should be monitoring your social media activity, and may limit access
  • Review privacy settings with your parents
  • If something does not look or feel right, talk to your parents immediately
  • Be cautious about what you post or say online because:
    • it lasts forever
    • it may embarrass you or your parents
    • it may harm or hurt someone’s feelings
    • or it may just be inappropriate
  • Don’t let others convince you to do something that you are not comfortable with or that is wrong.
  • Talk to a parent right away if you are being bullied online. Visit Stopbullying.gov for more information about what to do and tools that can help.
  • Never share your location or if you are alone because it can make you and your family unsafe.
  • Establish very strong passwords with your family and do not share them with anyone outside of your family.
  • Always log out of social media when you are done, especially if you are using a device outside of your home.
  • Do not spread, rumors, lies or use inappropriate words.

If you’re unsure, ask your parents before posting or snapping or responding to others on social media.

Even though there are many risks involved when using the internet and social media, there are benefits as well:

  • Social media can strengthen your family connections, friendships and other relationships by helping you to stay in touch.
  • When safely using social media, you can learn to be more “tech-savvy”.

Talk to your parents about using the internet and social media safely – keep the conversations going.

This is similar to other types of bullying except it takes place online and through text messages sent to cell phones. Cyberbullies can be classmates, online acquaintances and even anonymous users.

Examples of cyber bullying:

  • Sending someone mean or threatening messages
  • Excluding someone from an instant messenger buddy list or blocking them for no reason
  • Tricking someone into sharing personal or embarrassing information and sharing it
  • Posing as a friend and posting on their social media page
  • Creating a social media profile to make fun of another person
  • Using websites to rate or judge people as prettiest, ugliest, etc.

When cyber bullying happens, it is important to document and report the behavior to a teacher, parent or trusted adult, so it can be addressed.

If you think you are being cyber bullied, please see these resources.

Cyber Tipline 1-800-843-5678 www.cybertipline.com

Crisis Call Center 1-800-273-8255 or text ANSWER to 839863 crisiscallcenter.org

Informational Articles:

A stranger is ANYONE that your family doesn’t know well.

You may think strangers look “scary” like the villains in cartoons. That is not always true. Strangers who are dressed nicely or are attractive can be just as dangerous. You cannot tell if someone is safe just by their looks so you should be careful around ALL strangers.

So what happens when you are alone and need help? Whether you’re lost, being threatened by a bully, or being followed by a stranger–the safest thing for you to do is to ask a safe stranger for help. Safe strangers could be a teacher, local police officer, principal, or a store employee. Always try to go to a public place to ask for help.

Here are a few ways that strangers can approach you and could lead to danger:

  • An attractive stranger comes up to you in the park and asks for help finding their lost pet.
  • A woman who lives in your neighborhood but who you don’t know invites you into her house.
  • A stranger asks if you want a ride home from school.
  • Someone you don’t know is following you.
  • A person you know says or does something that makes you feel bad or uncomfortable.
  • While you are walking home, a car pulls over and a stranger asks you for directions.

Avoid Strangers and Dangerous Situations

  • Always be aware and careful
  • Never keep a secret, disobey your parents, or do something you’re unsure of without permission
  • Be watchful around people who make you uncomfortable – trust your feelings and find a safe, public place right away
  • Do not help or talk to strangers – for your own safety you might have to be rude to strangers – Say NO and leave
  • Let your parents or guardian know where you are at all times – ask permission or check in with your parents before going anywhere.
  • Memorize important information – know your parents’ work and cell phone numbers and your address.
  • Only go to safe places – talk to your parent about the safe places in your neighborhood
  • Be firm – it is okay to say no to someone
  • Play in groups – there is safety in numbers so play with other friends when possible.

What to do when you’re in danger?…..No, Go, Yell and Tell.

Say No
Go or run away
Yell as loud as you can for help or to call for a trusted adult
Tell a trusted adult or safe stranger what happened

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Additional Resources:

Remember, if anyone offers you drugs or alcohol, SAY NO and tell a trusted adult right away.

Examples of trusted adults could include your parents, school teacher, school counselor, school nurse, and policeman.

Ask questions so you can get the facts:

  1. Ask them about drugs and alcohol
  2. Show them all the resources below and ask them to review them with you
  3. Role play with your parents to plan an appropriate response

Situations for role playing with your parents:

  • I’m playing at a friend’s house and there is alcohol out. He isn’t drinking but his parents are and I’m uncomfortable.
  • A kid had a bag full of pills at school and he was passing them around to his friends.
  • My friend asked me if I wanted to drink some of her parents’ alcohol.
  • I was walking home from school and an older boy asked me if I wanted to smoke with him.
  • A friend tells me that his uncle gives him alcohol every weekend – just one drink.

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 More Information and Resources: