Winter Games and Safety

Winter is a wonderful time of year for kids. With cold and snow come sledding, ice skating, and lots of other fun. But did you know that you can help prevent crime while you play in the snow? Follow these tips and help “Take A Bite Out Of Crime.”

Be sure not to leave things out when you go in to warm up. Take your sled and other toys with you wherever you go.
Stick with your friends. Remember how to be safe in your neighborhood.
Don’t start snowball fights with kids you don’t know. Starting a fight, even with snowballs, is being a bully.
If someone picks on you, find your friends or walk away. If you see someone being picked on, be a friend and ask that kid to play with you.

With the cold comes some danger, though.

Dress warmly. Wear layers of clothes and a hat.
Don’t stay outside all day. Go inside sometimes to warm up.
Ice skate at a rink. If there aren’t any rinks nearby, make sure that your parents have checked out the place you want to skate and are OK with it.
Stay out of the street. When it’s cold, streets can be extra slick, making them even more dangerous.
Make sure your parents know where you are and that you know how to get in touch with them. If you get hurt, find a trusted adult.
Keep your snowballs made of snow. Don’t put rocks or ice in them; ice balls and rocks can seriously hurt people!
Don’t tunnel in the snow. If there is a big drift, it may seem like a fun idea to build an underground city. However, kids can get hurt when their tunnels fill with snow with them inside.
As always, be careful around strangers. Remember the difference between a good stranger and a bad one, and remember never to go anywhere with someone you and your family don’t know. If anyone makes you uncomfortable, run away and tell a trusted adult.