It’s always good to be conscious of safety when out and about. Answer these questions about how to handle situations to test your street smarts!
1. You are walking down a main street to a new friend’s house in a part of town that is unfamiliar to you. You notice that there is a person walking a little ways behind you for a few blocks. What should you do?
- Take a quick left turn onto a narrow side street to see if the person turns also.
- Turn around and say, “Are you following me? Who are you?”
- Ignore the person and keep walking.
- Calmly cross to the other side of the main street to see if the person does the same.
The correct answer is: Calmly cross to the other side of the main street to see if the person does the same.
It is a good idea to cross the street to see if the person behind you does the same. It is not a good idea to turn onto a narrow side street off the main road because it is more likely that there will be other people and businesses on the main street. If you have a feeling that you are being followed, you should not ignore your feelings. It is better to simply cross the street to check than to ignore the situation and put yourself in danger.
It is a good idea to cross the street to see if the person behind you does the same. It is not a good idea to turn onto a narrow side street off the main road because it is more likely that there will be other people and businesses on the main street. If you have a feeling that you are being followed, you should not ignore your feelings. It is better to simply cross the street to check than to ignore the situation and put yourself in danger.
2. You cross the street and the person crosses also, so they are still walking behind you. What should you do?
- Keep walking straight ahead calmly and ignore the person.
- Speed up and go straight into a store that you can see a block ahead of you.
- Stop, pull out your cell phone and call your friend to tell her about the suspicious person.
- Turn around and say, “Stop following me!”
The correct answer is: Speed up and go straight into a store that you can see a block ahead of you.
The best thing that you can do in that situation is run for the nearest open business, whether it is a restaurant or store. You can go immediately to the store manager or employee and ask to use the phone to call the police. If you stop to yell at the person or to pull out your phone to call your friend, then you give the other person more time to get to you and possibly harm you. Do not be afraid to yell while you are running so that you can get the attention of other people who may help you.
The best thing that you can do in that situation is run for the nearest open business, whether it is a restaurant or store. You can go immediately to the store manager or employee and ask to use the phone to call the police. If you stop to yell at the person or to pull out your phone to call your friend, then you give the other person more time to get to you and possibly harm you. Do not be afraid to yell while you are running so that you can get the attention of other people who may help you.
3.You are at a party with one of your friends at someone’s house. A guy you have seen before at school asks you to come upstairs to hang out with him and a bunch of people you don’t know. You overheard that they were drinking upstairs. What should you do?
- Go upstairs by yourself with the guy to see what it is like.
- Ask your friend to go with you.
- Go upstairs by yourself with the guy and accept the drink that he says he poured for you.
- Stay downstairs with people you are familiar with and tell the guy that you would rather talk to him downstairs.
The correct answer is: Stay downstairs with people you are familiar with and tell the guy that you would rather talk to him downstairs.
The best thing you can do in this situation is remain with your friends in the place you are comfortable. If you go upstairs with the other person, you risk putting yourself in a dangerous situation by being with people you do not know, and who are drinking. You should not accept a drink from another person that you don’t know because there is the possibility that they put a drug or alcohol in your drink. Get your own soda and stay where you are comfortable.
The best thing you can do in this situation is remain with your friends in the place you are comfortable. If you go upstairs with the other person, you risk putting yourself in a dangerous situation by being with people you do not know, and who are drinking. You should not accept a drink from another person that you don’t know because there is the possibility that they put a drug or alcohol in your drink. Get your own soda and stay where you are comfortable.
4. Your parents told you that they want to pick you up at 11:30 pm from a party, but once you get there, you want to stay longer. A person from your school says that her older brother can pick you both up later. You know that he drinks at parties. What do you do?
- Call your parents and tell them that you’ll be home later because you can get a ride home from a friend’s brother.
- Call your parents and lie by telling them that your friend’s parent will be the one picking you up.
- Do not take a ride with someone who has been drinking. Call your parents and ask if you can stay a little later and if they can still pick you up.
- None of the above
The correct answer is: Do not take a ride with someone who has been drinking. Call your parents and ask if you can stay a little later and if they can still pick you up.
It is never a good idea to get in the car with someone who has been drinking. You can get seriously hurt. It is important that you do not lie to your parents about how you will be getting home. The best thing that you can do is to call and speak with your parents honestly about the situation. Even if they do not want to pick you up later, it is important that you listen and respect their rules and get home safely.
It is never a good idea to get in the car with someone who has been drinking. You can get seriously hurt. It is important that you do not lie to your parents about how you will be getting home. The best thing that you can do is to call and speak with your parents honestly about the situation. Even if they do not want to pick you up later, it is important that you listen and respect their rules and get home safely.
5. You are going out for the evening to a party with a group of your friends. What should you do to develop a safety plan before you leave the house?
- Tell your parents where you are going and who you will be with.
- Decide on a code phrase that you can say over the phone to your parents if you want to leave the party.
- Bring a cell phone or a phone card and the phone number of a taxi service in your purse or wallet.
- All of the above.
The correct answer is: All of the above.
When you are going to be out with friends, you should develop a personal safety plan before leaving. It is important to tell your parents where you are going. Bring emergency numbers just in case you need them. Before you leave is a good time to choose a code word or phrase that will signal your parents that you need to be picked up. Developing a personal safety plan that you can use in all situations is the best way to be safe and comfortable.
When you are going to be out with friends, you should develop a personal safety plan before leaving. It is important to tell your parents where you are going. Bring emergency numbers just in case you need them. Before you leave is a good time to choose a code word or phrase that will signal your parents that you need to be picked up. Developing a personal safety plan that you can use in all situations is the best way to be safe and comfortable.
6. You are at the mall alone and someone that you don’t know sits down next to you. You think that you recognize this person as someone you have seen in every store you have been in all day. The person starts talking to you and telling you about himself. What should you NOT do?
You should NOT:
- Tell him your full name and what school you go to.
- Say “I am busy and do not want to talk to you right now.”
- Call your parents and ask them to pick you up soon because you have finished shopping and want to leave.
- Find a security guard and explain that you are uncomfortable.
The correct answer is: Tell him your full name and what school you go to.
You should NOT tell him your full name and what school you go to. It is never a good idea to tell a stranger your full name, where you go to school, where you live, or any other personal information until you know that you can trust the person. It is a good idea to end the conversation, call to be picked up, or speak with a security guard if you feel uncomfortable. Do not worry about sounding rude or being wrong about someone. It is always better to be on the safe side.
You should NOT tell him your full name and what school you go to. It is never a good idea to tell a stranger your full name, where you go to school, where you live, or any other personal information until you know that you can trust the person. It is a good idea to end the conversation, call to be picked up, or speak with a security guard if you feel uncomfortable. Do not worry about sounding rude or being wrong about someone. It is always better to be on the safe side.
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