Before You Walk Out

• Have your keys ready before leaving the building.

• Take a quick look around before stepping into the parking lot.

• Avoid becoming completely absorbed in your phone.

• If something feels off, stay inside and ask an employee or security officer to walk with you.

As You Approach Your Vehicle

• Look around your vehicle and glance into the back seat before getting in.

• If someone or something near your vehicle makes you uncomfortable, don't approach it.

• Get inside, lock your doors, and then organize your belongings or check your phone.

While You're in the Car

• Keep your doors locked, even when you're sitting in a parked vehicle.

• Avoid sitting distracted in your car longer than necessary, especially at night.

• Keep your phone charged and know how to quickly access its emergency features.

💜 SCC REMINDER:

Trusting your instincts isn't overreacting. If something doesn't feel right, give yourself permission to leave, ask for help, or change your plans. 

While You’re Out

• Keep your head up and stay aware of the people and activity around you.

• If you use headphones, keep the volume low enough that you can still hear what’s happening nearby.

• Whenever possible, choose well-lit, populated routes—especially after dark.

• Know where you’re going before you start walking so you aren’t distracted by your phone the entire way.

If Someone Makes You Uncomfortable

• Trust that feeling. You don’t owe anyone politeness or conversation.

• Create distance and move toward other people, an open business, or another safer location.

• Change direction or cross the street if you need to.

• If you believe you’re being followed, avoid going straight home. Move toward a populated place and contact emergency services if you feel you’re in immediate danger.

Stay Connected

• Let someone you trust know where you’re going when appropriate.

• Keep your phone charged when you’ll be out for an extended period.

• Learn how your phone’s Emergency SOS feature works before you ever need it.

• Consider sharing your location with a trusted person when walking alone or traveling somewhere unfamiliar.

💜 SCC REMINDER:
Awareness isn’t about expecting something bad to happen. It’s about noticing what’s happening around you so you can make confident decisions.

Everyday Habits

• Lock doors and windows when you leave and before going to bed.

• Avoid leaving spare keys in obvious outdoor hiding places.

• Keep entrances, porches, and walkways well lit when possible.

• Make sure everyone in the household knows basic emergency plans and important contact information.

At the Door

• Check who is outside before opening the door, especially when you aren’t expecting anyone.

• You don’t have to open the door to speak with someone you don’t know.

• Be cautious about telling an unexpected visitor that you’re home alone.

• If someone refuses to leave or tries to enter your home, move to a safer location and contact emergency services.

Deliveries & Social Media

• Bring packages inside when you can rather than leaving them outside for long periods.

• Avoid publicly posting that your home is empty while you’re away.

• Be mindful of photos that accidentally reveal your address, house number, children’s school information, or regular routines.

Have a Simple Plan

• Decide where family members should go during emergencies such as severe weather, fire, or an unsafe situation.

• Keep emergency numbers and important information somewhere accessible.

• Teach children how to call 911 and what information they may need to give.

💜 SCC REMINDER:
Home safety doesn’t have to be complicated. Small, consistent habits can help your home feel more prepared and secure.

Protect Your Information

• Use strong, unique passwords and turn on two-factor authentication when available.

• Review which apps can access your location, camera, microphone, and contacts.

• Keep your phone and apps updated so you receive current security fixes.

• Use a screen lock such as a PIN, password, fingerprint, or Face ID.

Think Before You Share

• Be careful about posting your location in real time, especially when you’re alone.

• Check photos before posting for things that may reveal your address, workplace, children’s school, license plate, or daily routine.

• Review your social media privacy settings and know who can see what you share.

• Consider posting vacation photos after you return rather than announcing that your home is empty.

Watch for Suspicious Messages

• Be cautious with unexpected links, attachments, QR codes, or requests for money or personal information.

• A message that creates panic or extreme urgency deserves extra scrutiny.

• If someone claims to represent a company or organization, contact that organization through a trusted method rather than information provided in the suspicious message.

Know Your Phone’s Safety Features

• Learn how to activate Emergency SOS on your specific phone.

• Set up emergency contacts and medical/emergency information if you’re comfortable doing so.

• Location sharing can be useful with people you trust—but periodically review who currently has access to your location.

💜 SCC REMINDER:
Your digital surroundings deserve awareness too. A few privacy habits can protect information about where you are, where you go, and the people you care about.

Teach the Basics

• Help children learn their full name, a trusted adult’s phone number, and their home address when age-appropriate.

• Teach them how and when to call 911 and what information they may need to give.

• Choose a family code word that can be used if someone other than the expected person ever needs to pick them up.

• Make sure children know which trusted adults they can go to when they need help.

Out & About

• Teach kids to stay close to their trusted adult in busy public places and choose a meeting spot in case anyone gets separated.

• If they become lost, teach them to look for a clearly identified employee, security officer, or another appropriate helper rather than wandering around searching.

• Remind them that they don't have to go anywhere with someone just because that person says they know their parent.

• Teach them that it's okay to yell, move away, and seek help if someone makes them feel unsafe.

Walking & After School

• Plan familiar routes together and identify safe places along the way where they could ask for help.

• Encourage kids to walk with others when possible and stay aware of traffic and their surroundings.

• Establish a simple check-in routine for arriving at school, home, or another destination when appropriate.

• Talk about what to do if plans unexpectedly change instead of assuming they'll know in the moment.

Online Safety

• Keep conversations about online activity open so kids feel comfortable telling a trusted adult when something makes them uncomfortable.

• Teach them not to share personal details such as their address, school, passwords, or live location with people they don't know.

• Remind them that people online may not always be who they claim to be.

💜 SCC REMINDER:
The goal isn't to make children afraid. It's to give them simple plans they can remember, trusted people they can turn to, and confidence to speak up when something doesn't feel right.

If You’re in Immediate Danger

• Move to a safer location if you can do so safely.

• Call 911 for an immediate threat to life or safety, a crime in progress, fire, or another emergency requiring police, fire, or medical assistance.

• If you can't safely make a call, use other emergency features available on your device when appropriate.

• Follow instructions from emergency personnel once help is contacted.

Prepare Before You Need Help

• Save important local non-emergency numbers in your phone.

• Keep emergency contacts updated and make sure family members know how to reach them.

• Know the locations of nearby hospitals, police/fire departments, and other appropriate community resources.

• Keep important medical, identification, and emergency information accessible in a way that works for your household.

Finding Support
Sometimes safety involves more than an immediate emergency. Community organizations may offer help with housing, food, transportation, counseling, family services, victim support, and other needs.

💜 SCC REMINDER:
Asking for help is a safety skill too. Knowing where to turn before you need support can make a difficult moment easier to navigate.