Family Safety Is Community Safety

Have you ever had discussions with your family on what to do in case of an emergency? Did you ever set up a plan or ask “What if?”

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and in many cultures, we do support families and do what we can to support our youth through community outreach. In April, we celebrate Family Safety Week, an annual week-long campaign from family safety, highlighting the simple measures families can take to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe from serious accidental injury and the heartbreak it can cause. This week is an opportunity to spotlight different safety topics, sharing advice and free resources.

Empowerment Self-Defense is a perfect resource for families to keep their keiki safe year-round. It is an evidence-based system of violence prevention. This comprehensive system takes a holistic approach to self-defense, personal safety, and empowerment, supporting people to live safe and fulfilling lives. Empowerment self-defense is more than just teaching people how to defend themselves in threatening and violent situations. It is also a means of personal growth, building confidence and self-esteem, and supporting healthy relationships.

So, what are some great tips for families from this Empowerment Self-Defense Company? 

1) Teach your youth to trust their instincts. If something doesn’t feel right to anyone in your family, have them ask themselves why, discuss who are people they feel comfortable speaking to and talk about ways of processing their thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

2) Support your youth in getting curious and asking questions. If something doesn’t feel safe or you don’t love the answer, discuss with them some possible alternatives or help explain your viewpoint regarding different situations.

3) Come up with an emergency safety plan for your family

     - Where to go if you are at different locations and can’t find a family member.

     - Who to call if your youth needs help or support or doesn’t know what to do.

     - Teach your youth that using their voice and vocalizing what is and is not okay for them is okay.

     - Talk with them if you know what you want regarding boundaries for them.

     - Laminate your top 7 people with contact information and always have that laminated copy with you in case of an emergency.

     - If a youth is around an adult they don’t know, and that adult is trying to talk to them or take them somewhere, you can teach them to yell, “You’re NOT my Mom!” “You’re NOT my Dad!” “You’re NOT my Parent!” “I don’t know this _____ (Man, Woman, Person, etc.),”

     - Teach your youth basic age-appropriate self-defense moves that are easy to use and remember. If you don’t know them, find an Empowerment Self-Defense instructor in your area or check out our Online Empowerment Self-Defense Course through the Transformation Academy.

4) Teach your youth to set boundaries regarding what they will and won’t do. Have discussions about touch and personal space; if someone says something that brings up feelings of discomfort, discuss how to respond. Explore with your family what boundaries feel good to set, especially with others, to give youth a sense of personal safety (mentally, emotionally, and physically).

5) Teach the 5-Principles of Self-Defense: Think, Yell, Run, Fight, Tell, and when to use each!

6) Discuss how to engage or not engage with strangers and where to go if someone feels like they are being followed, bullied, or harassed.

7) Discuss how to address inappropriate behavior from peers and adults alike. 85-90% of people who attack you (physically or emotionally) are people whom you know. It is good to have a plan!

8) Discuss Online Etiquette, how and when to block people, and when to report them. 

9) Set up parental control on social media and different online platforms to prevent your youth from seeing things you would not like them to see.

10) Do the “What if” Game. Essentially, ask what if this happened, what would you do. This can allow for discussion points set up with your whole family so that there are plans in case of different scenarios.

11) Teach Basic Self-Defense moves that are easy to remember when adrenalized and give scenarios on when it is okay to use them. 

12) Consent is Important. Discuss consent (making the topic age-appropriate), so your youth will have tools to use regardless of circumstance or who they are with.

For other general safety tips for families:

Be watchful near water. Did you know children up to age four are most susceptible to drowning? More than 3,000 people drown every year.

Be prepared for fire. Ensure all electrical appliances, electrical cords, and outlets are in good condition; keep children, pets, and combustible materials away from space heaters. Change batteries to smoke detectors twice yearly and test your smoke detector monthly. 

Prevent poisoning. The NSC states that poisoning is a leading cause of death in the home.

Prevent falls. CDC reports around 20,000 people age 65 and older die each year from falls.

Think Twice Before Driving Drunk. Approximately 40 percent of auto accident deaths involve drinking.

Buckle Up Buttercup. According to the NSC, Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 33. This also includes making sure your child is using safety seats.

Prevent Your Child from Choking. Did you know suffocation is a leading cause of death in homes for children ages four and younger?

Family Safety is so important, and one of the best ways to address it is to have these discussions early on, make plans, ask questions, discuss what to do in emergencies, where to meet, who to call, and how to vocalize what you need. Stay safe out there, and enjoy this beautiful life!

Want more information about Empowerment Self-Defense? Click HERE to check out our Online Empowerment Self-Defense Course, which is in partnership with the Transformation Academy.