Independence - Safety

At Home

When you leave school there might be sometimes you are in the house on your own.  This might be because you:

• Used to leave early to go to school on the bus
• Arrived home later in the afternoon
• Depending on what you do next you might have a shorter session
• You might not have somewhere to go every day of the week

It’s important that you learn how to stay safe when you are in the house on your own.  Here are some tips to help you stay safe:

When you are home on your own:

• Make sure the outside doors are locked when you are inside.
• Only answer the door if you know its someone you are expecting
• Never let anyone into the house you don’t know even if they say they are there to check something.
• Keep your mobile phone with you all the time.

REMEMBER: Send a text to your parent/carer to let them know you have arrived home safely.

Emergency Contacts

It’s really important that you know who to phone if you have an accident, feel ill or there is an emergency. An emergency is a situation or event which is unplanned when you have to think and act quickly.

In the Kitchen: Practical information  for operating equipment)

• Only use equipment in the kitchen you already know how to use eg microwave, kettle, toaster, cooker. Gets lots of practice when your family are there so you can become confident.
• If you are boiling the kettle only use as much water as you need, don’t overfill. You can find out how much you need by filling the cup you are using with water and pouring it directly into the kettle before you boil it.
• If you are heating up food in the microwave always follow the instructions for example – sometimes you might need to

Pierce the film

stir food half way through

leave food to stand to cool down for a few minutes

• Never put metal or tinfoil into the microwave.
• Use an oven glove when removing hot foot from the microwave or oven
• Always check you have turned the gas or electric ring off after using the cooker.
• If you have to cook a meal be prepared before you start to cook eg have all the ingredients to hand, prepare any fruit or veg, have equipment ready like pots and bowls.

REMEMBER: ELECTRICTY & WATER should never be mixed!!!!

Below are some simple ideas for breakfast and lunch if you are in the house on your own. What can you already make?

Common Sense

This means don’t do anything that you think could be unsafe or risky. For example:

• Don’t climb on a chair or ladder to reach anything down from a high shelf
• Don’t light matches or smoke in the house.
• Don’t do anything you know you are not allowed to do eg drink alcohol, light the fire, use the cooker
• Don’t invite people to your house unless your parents know they are coming

What can you do with your time if you’re home on your own?

• Watch some TV
• Wash any dishes or load/unload dishwasher
• Tidy your bedroom
• Recycle any rubbish
• Listen to some music
• Make a cup of tea
• Do some housework such as dust or vacuum (your parents will be really happy for you to help out around the house)

What can you do if you feel unsafe at home?

• Always know who to phone by having your emergency contact numbers programmed into your phone or up on a notice board.
• Ring an emergency contact if you are feeling anxious for example a parent, brother, sister or another relative and tell them why you feel worried.
• Check you have remembered to lock the doors
• Do something that helps you feel relaxed eg listen to music, watch some TV

If you do have an accident at home don’t panic!! Here is some basic first aid you can do:

Cut finger: – hold a clean hankie or toilet tissue over the cut and press down. Hold your cut finger up while you are doing this. If the bleeding doesn’t stop you should ring your emergency contact number for example a parent, brother/sister, granny, neighbour

Burn/ Scald: Run your finger/hand under cold water for several minutes.  Ring your emergency contact number and let them know what has happened.

Slip/ trip:  If you fall at home wait a few moments and try and stand up.  If this is too painful or if you bumped your head phone your emergency contact number.

Activities: Preparing a simple lunch, demonstrating basic first aid, make a list of personal emergency contacts and put them into your phone, practice using kitchen equipement (check list what you can currently use and what you would like to use)

In the community

There will be times when you will want to go into your local community to do different activities including:

• Going to college or work
• Trips to the cinema
• Shopping
• Visiting friends
• Going out for food and drinks
• Visiting the Doctor or Dentist
• Attending clubs eg Special Olympics, drama or church

It’s important to stay safe and feel safe.  Here are the Top Ten Tips  to staying safe when you are out and about in your local community.

1. Always plan how you will travel to and from where you are going eg public bus, train, tram, walking, community transport, taxi or going in the car with your family (activity on planning a journey see section in practical steps)
2. Make sure someone always knows where you are going and roughly what time you will be home eg your parents, brother/sister, flatmate.
3. Have enough money with you to pay for your transport there and home. Bring your bank card with you just in case you need to withdraw more cash.
4. Make sure you take your phone with you and that it is charged so you can phone or text your friends or emergency contacts while you are out.
5. Don’t get into conversation with strangers. Its OK to say hello and smile at people you don’t know if they speak to you but don’t tell people personal details such as where you live or give them your mobile number.
6. If you are going out for a drink be aware of how much you are able to drink and don’t get drunk. Drinking affects your judgement and this can lead to risky behaviour! Read the section on Healthy Living for more information about drinking alcohol and safe limits.
7. Cross busy roads using traffic lights or zebra crossings whenever possible. Walk on the pavement or if there is no pavement then walk towards on coming traffic at the side of the road.
8. Women– wear your handbag across your body and always keep it closed. Men – always carry your wallet and phone in a jacket pocket NEVER in the back pocket of your jeans.
9. At night try and walk with friends or in areas that are well lit.
10. If you ever feel anxious, get lost or become injured always ring your emergency contact and tell them where you are. If you are hurt or injured ring 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Activities: Contingency plan if lost, plan an activity taking into account all of the above, google maps – knowing where you are.