Crime & Safety

Tips: How To Stay Safe

Police offer suggestions for students to keep cautious while walking to school

Many of Hyattsville's school-age children walk to school and back home each day. HPD Sgt. Suzie Johnson offers some tips on how they can stay safe.

     1) Cross at stop signs -- "I see a lot of kids that cross in the middle of the street," Johnson said.

     2) Walk in a group -- There's safety in numbers.

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     3) Scream "Fire" -- Tell your kids to do this if someone unknown tries to coax them away. Johnson said people are used to hearing children screaming while they're playing. But more people are likely to pay attention if they use the word "fire."

     4) Know your address -- "You'd be suprised how many seventh-graders don't know where they live," Johnson said.

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     5) Be aware of people you don't know -- Johnson said it's important to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings.


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