The North Riverside Police Department wants to keep your kids and home safe this summer, here are some safety tips to help keep you and you loved ones safe.

Safety Tips for Parents

• Provide a list of phone numbers of neighbors, family and friends that your child can call in an emergency. Make sure your child knows how to dial 911.
• Know the route your child will take to and from a given location. Remind your child never to take a shortcut or deviate from the route.
• Require children/teenagers to check in with you before leaving the house and when they arrive back home. 
• Teach your children never to talk to anyone they don’t know. 
• Teach your children to play and travel in groups, there is safety in numbers.
• Establish rules for using the internet. Make sure your child knows to never give out personal information on the computer.
• Click here for more information Travel
• Click here for more information Strangers
• Click here for more information Swimming

Bike Riding Safety Tips

• Wear a safety helmet.
• Check your bike before leaving to make sure tires are inflated and brakes are working.
• If you ride on the street keep to the right and obey all traffic signs and signals.
• Yield to vehicles and signal when turning.
• Use crosswalks and yield to pedestrians.
• Lock your bike every time it is not in use.
• If riding after dark use a headlight and taillight.
• Click here for more information Biking

Home Safety Tips

• When you are away from your home, keep doors and windows locked. 
• Do not leave our garage door open.
• Install lighting, such as motion lights, on your home’s exterior.
• Put interior lights on timers to give the impression that someone is home.
• If you sleep on the second floor of your home, keep all first-floor doors and windows closed and locked.
• Trim shrubbery around your home to eliminate hiding places.
• Be alert to anyone in your neighborhood looking to perform home repair and asking to enter your home. Ask to see identification and call the company they represent to verify before allowing them inside. If in doubt, contact the police immediately.

Vehicle Safety Tips

• Do not leave your vehicle running while unattended.
• Always lock your doors and roll up your windows when you leave your vehicle.
• Park in secure, well-lit areas.
• Install anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locking devices. Activate your vehicle alarm system.
• Do not leave valuables in your car. If you must leave items in your vehicle, lock them in your trunk.
• Do not leave valuables such as purses, wallets, etc. in unlocked vehicles while pumping gas. 
• Before you get into your car, check the backseat and around the car.  Once you are inside your vehicle, lock your doors.
• Do not leave children or pets unattended inside your vehicle. Temperatures inside of a vehicle are considerably warmer than the temperature outside. Excessive heat can cause serious injury or death.

Vacation Safety Tips

• If you are going out of town, set up a Vacation Watch click here.
• Make sure your home is locked and secure.
• Stop your mail or have a friend, family or neighbor retrieve it for you.
• Keep valuables away from public view through a window.
• Do not post your vacation on social media.
• If away for an extended period of time, have someone to mow your lawn.
• Leave inside lights on timers to create the impression that your house is occupied.
• Let a trusted neighbor know you will be out of town.