Safe from Harm Adviser

Keep Yourself Safe

Mobile Phone Safety

• If they don’t know how, teach your Mum and Dad to send and receive text messages
• Only give your number to people you know and trust
• If your plans change, send a text to let someone know
• For emergencies, keep a £5 note in the back of your phone
• If alone, set your phone to vibrate so as not to draw attention to yourself
• When taking a lift/taxi, text the registration number to someone you trust
• Most phones will allow 999 calls, even if there is no credit left or the keypad is locked
• Make sure you keep your phone charged
• Keep your phone separate from your purse
• Don’t walk whilst talking/texting on your phone – you won’t be concentrating on what is going on around you
• Check around you before answering your phone and find somewhere safe to stop and talk
• Keep a paper/computer copy of all your phone numbers
• Choose a well-lit area when you need to make a call

Internet Safety

• Choose a nickname to use in chatrooms. Never use your real name
• Never use a suggestive nickname, e.g. Miss Hotpants
• Don’t give out personal information, such as your name, address, phone number or school
• Don’t pick a nickname that makes it easy to guess your real name, e.g. nasus = susan
• Keep your passwords private. If you think someone else knows what it is, change it
• Internet providers will only ever request your password when you sign on. Delete any emails asking you for your password, even if they seem genuine.
• Remember that people you meet on the internet might not be who they say they are
• If you want to meet people you have talked to on the internet never arrange this in secret. Ask you parents/guardians first, and if they agree, arrange to meet up in a busy public place and take an adult you trust with you.
• Beware – viruses can be spread by email attachments. Only open emails from people you know. If you are unsure, delete the email without opening it.
• When using chatrooms, if someone makes offensive comments or uses threatening or inappropriate language, leave the chat room immediately and report that person to the person in charge of monitoring the chat room.