Junior Safety Officers
Hello and welcome to our Junior Safety Officers webpage. We are Nell and Archie.
These pages will evolve throughout the year and will include messages about personal safety and keeping safe when you are out and about during the year.
We will discuss safety gear; helmets and seatbelts and why they are important. We will talk to you all about community safety, looking after the environment, keeping your property safe and being a Good Citizen.
September
Our focus for this month is Clean Air.
This month’s topic is all about Clean Air and there are two ways that you can help. The first is this; if you come to school in a car please ask the person who brings you and collects you all about Engine Idling. This is when a car is stopped for over a minute but the engine is still running. It produces Carbon Emissions which are bad for us and the environment, so please ask them to turn the engine off. This will help improve the air quality around our school, making it safer and healthier for everyone. Why not try and walk, scoot or cycle to school, even if it’s just part of the way. This will give you some exercise and make you ready to work.
There are a number of reasons why you should do this.
First is the environment. When an engine is running it blows carbon dioxide into the air. This is the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.
Second is health. Idling makes air quality worse. Young people like us are more likely to become ill because are lungs are still developing.
Third is money. Idling wastes fuel that you must pay for. It burns a hole in your pocket.
Fourth is Safety. With engines idling it creates lots of noise which makes it harder for children to hear cars that are moving.
So, what can you do? Don’t travel by car unless you have to.
Ask your parents to switch off their engine if they are waiting longer than a minute.
Share this information with your family and friends.
October
Our focus for this month was Be Bright, Be Seen and Halloween and Bonfire Night Safety
Let’s look at Be Bright Be Seen. What does this mean? Some of you will know that the clock go back one hour soon this means it will get darker earlier. This means it can be hard to be seen especially by drivers. How can we make sure we are seen? We could wear bright colours or have bright colours on our clothes and bags. This could be fluorescent and reflective materials which can be seen easily in the day or night. You could have bright or reflective keyrings, carry a torch or use the torch on your phone if you have one. And remember to use the lights on your bike when you are out riding.
Our second focus is Halloween and Bonfire Night Safety. These two exciting nights are nearly here but we need to remember to stay safe. Most of us won’t be going out Trick or Treating but we may have a bonfire in our garden with some fireworks. Remember to stand well back from the fire, it will get very hot and sparks can jump off it. Always remember to wear gloves if you use a sparkler or you could put it in a carrot. Remember never to pick up a sparkler it can reach 2000 degrees Celsius. That’s 20 times hotter than boiling water. Never go back to a lit firework.
This month we have run a competion to design a cycle/scooter helmet, this is from concerns raised from parents about children refusing to wear a helmet.
November
Our focus' for this month was Safer Crossing Places and Anti-Bullying
There are 8 types of safe crossing places such as Puffin Crossings and Traffic Islands
These are usually on roads that are busier or harder to cross. But busier roads aren't always the most dangerous, some quieter roads are dangerous too. And don't forget, electric cars are more used now, so wait, look and listen.
December
Our focus' this month were Safety Helmets & Safety Gear and Personal & Community Safety
Our first focus this month is Safety Helmets and Safety Gear. Do you know how to check it’s on safely? I’ll tell you.
Make sure it’s not too loose.
Fasten the straps under your chin.
If the helmet moves are too loose. It should be comfortable and shouldn’t dig in.
Maybe if you need a new on or don’t have one you could ask for one as a Christmas present. You could also ask for some knee pads, bright clothes, reflectors and lights. Our second focus this month is Personal and Community Safety. This is all about keeping yourself and others around you safe. Here are a few tips to help you. Practice keeping your possessions safe. Start with the things you take to school. Remember to write you name on everything but especially water bottles and jumpers. Make sure doors are shut and if it’s dark maybe you could leave a light on. If someone knocks at the door at home, ask if you can answer it. Always let an adult answer if you are not sure. Don’t leave bags on display especially in cars. This also applies to mobile phones and iPad. A thief may break a window to take it. If you have a phone be careful where you use it. Don’t use it whilst you are walking down the road. You need to concentrate on what’s around you and be aware of what is going on. Never give anyone your name, phone number or address online. This includes chat rooms, messaging or games. ICE is a good contact to put in your phone, it means in case of emergency. Fill it in with the mane of who to contact if something happens. Most phone have an emergency contact area which anyone can access. Ask your parents or guardian to help you fill this in.
January
Our focus this month is Seat Belts and Car Seats & Online Safety (S.M.A.R.T.)
Our first focus this month is Seat Belts & Car Seats. It’s actually the law that you must use a car seat until you are 12 years old or smaller than 135cms tall.
Using a car seat is safer for children as it puts us and our body in the right position for the seat belt to work. It should sit over your shoulder and the lap part should sit on your hips. If you are over this age or taller than 135cm then you must wear a seat belt. Your parents or guardians can be fined up to £500 if you don’t use a car seat and using a car seat or a seat belt will protect you if you are in a car crash.
Did you know that wearing a seat belt saves over 2000 lives a year?
Our second focus was Online Safety and how to be S.M.A.R.T online.
S for Safe: Keep personal details away from strangers.
M for Meet: Don’t meet people that you know online unless you’re with a trusted adult.
A for Accept: Don’t click any links that you’re unsure about. Ask a trusted adult.
R for Reliable: Don’t believe everything you see and hear online. Some people may say or write things that aren’t true. Check information before you believe it.
T for Tell someone: If you are unsure or worried about something online ask an adult you trust. If you get nasty messages or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable tell an adult. Never reply to the messages even if they say you have to. Speak to an adult or call Childline.
February
Our focus this month is Parking Outside School and Safer Internet Day
Our first focus this month is Parking Outside School.
Have a think about how you get to and from School?
- Never park or drop someone off on the yellow zig zags
- Never park on double yellow lines
- Remember you could walk, park and walk, scoot or cycle to school.
Our second focus is Safer Internet Day. Tuesday 6th February was Safer Internet Day, and the message is Together for a Better Internet. Last month we looked at ways to stay safe online so hopefully you will remember how to say smart. Look on our notice board if you forgot. Tuesday was Safer Internet Day and the Message was Together for a better internet. We all need to stay safe online and only share what is necessary, so people don’t see things you don’t want them to see such as you real name, address, photographs or even where you go to school. Always think before you post, is it helpful, inspiring, necessary, and kind. If it isn’t don’t post. Cyberbullying is when you are unkind to someone all the time online, posting things that aren’t true and saying things that are cruel and unkind. It is hard to escape cyberbully as most of us go online a lot. If you wouldn’t like it said about you then don’t say it about anyone else.
March
Our focus this month was Stranger Danger and The Green Cross Code
Our first focus was Stranger Danger. A stranger is someone you don’t know; somebody you have only just met or someone you don’t know that well. Most strangers won’t hurt you but its best to be careful. They are not always scary looking. They may try to be nice to you at first. Never be afraid to say no to a stranger and always tell an adult you trust like your parents if this happens. An adult should never ask a child to help them If you are really worried or scared call your parents or whoever looks after you or call 999 and ask for the Police.
Here are some tips on what to do to keep safe.
- When you are at home, don’t answer the door. That’s your parent’s job. Make sure you keep the doors and windows locked. If someone in your home makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, even if you know them, you can tell your teacher when you come to school.
- When you are playing outside make sure you can be seen by other people or for our younger children the person you are with. Don’t go over to cars even if they seem nice and say they won’t hurt you or stop and talk to people you don’t know. If someone makes you feel unsafe run home and tell someone.
- If a stranger asks you to go with them or tries to get hold of you don’t be afraid to shout, ‘I don’t know you, let me go’ or ‘you’re not my Mum/Dad’. Make as much noise as possible.
- If you are using a computer don’t talk to strangers, they may be pretending to be someone else. Don’t give them any details about yourself including your name, age, address or where you go to school. Never say you will meet anyone you only know online or someone your parents don’t know. This is the same if someone calls you on your mobile phone. Always tell someone if this happens.
- Never accept a gift from a stranger, don’t accept sweets or a drink and never go with them to see anything such as a puppy or something in their car or to help them find something they have lost. An adult should NEVER ask a child to help them. Remember make as much noise as you can.
- Know where your Safe Zones are. This is somewhere you can go if you are out and about on your own and feel unsafe, this could include a school, a family members house or a friend’s house or a shop or café. Tell them you feel unsafe and ask if they can phone someone for you.
Our second March focus was The GREEN CROSS CODE
With so many cars on our roads using The Green Cross Code will keep you safe when you are crossing the road.
Stop: First find a safe place to cross.
Look: It’s important that you can see all around you clearly in all directions. If you can’t see traffic then the traffic can’t see you. Look all around you for traffic. LOOK right, then left and then to your right again before you cross.
Listen: You can usually hear traffic. Listen carefully for traffic that you can’t see. Beware of electric cars and other vehicles that don’t make a sound such as scoots and bicycles.
Think: You have done this at every stage. When it is safe and there is no traffic, walk straight across the road. Keep looking and listening while you cross the road.
NEVER run across the road because you might fall over and you might not get up in time.