Stranger danger, empower your children to stay safe

Humphrey said that parents should continuously reinforce and instill tips on how their children should respond if approached by a stranger.

In a recent incident, a male pupil was injured after robbers dragged him by a moving vehicle on Beyers Naudé Drive. The occupant of a passing car tried to rob him of his cellphone. He managed to counterattack and clung onto the assailant’s car.

Humphrey said during an attack, the golden rule is to not antagonise the assailant as they are probably more scared than you are. “You need to show them that you are not a threat,” said Humphrey.

He advised parents to teach their children to be wary of strangers that might pose a threat. “While parents do share safety tips with their children, they don’t necessarily advise them on what to do if they find themselves in an actual crisis,” said Humphrey.

He stressed that unless your child feels they are facing imminent danger, they should not fight back and readily give over any material possessions and never engage in conversation.

Humphrey said parents should encourage their children to get a good look at the assailant. He said children should memorise as much detail as possible.

Parents should tell their children to stick to the routes they know and not take shortcuts through parking lots or quiet areas when walking. He said, “The same rules that apply to adults need to be instilled in children on a regular basis so they don’t forget them.”