Communication is crucial for keeping your children safe-especially when they’re not at home with you. Two-way radios make it easy for you and your child to remain in touch throughout every day. And staying in touch means staying safe.
Using 2-way radios is very simple. There are several models to choose from, each with a variety of features to meet all your communication needs. The handsets are lightweight and easy to carry, making these walkie-talkies fun for kids to use.
10 Safety Tips For Kids
- Know how to use your two way radio. Make sure both you and your child know how to use the handsets on the model you’ve purchased. Practice while standing a block away from each other so you both know what to expect when using the radios.
- Establish a call pattern with your child. Determine which channel you’ll use and when you’ll meet on the radio. Then agree how often you’ll check in with each other.
- Test the range beforehand. When your child is walking to a friend’s house or park, establish a route. Then check in with each other along that route so you’re sure there are no “dead spots”.
- Before leaving home, check the batteries in both 2-way radio handsets. AAA batteries generally do not last as long as AA batteries, so be sure to check them more often. If in doubt, always have your child carry a spare set. Between call-in times, the radio can also be turned off to preserve battery life.
- Always keep extra batteries for the two-way handsets on hand. If the batteries are rechargeable, make sure they remain charged and available at all times. Some Motorola two way radios have a battery power-save function; this slows the battery power expenditure when the handset remains on for long periods.
- Purchase walkie-talkie sets sturdy enough to withstand your child’s activities. If your child is extremely active and the handset needs extra protection, consider purchasing a rugged case for it.
- Never talk to strangers. Because 2-way radios are not private, your child can be approached by strangers over the airwaves. Teach them how to best handle this situation and ways to remain safe.
- Remember you’re sharing channels with others and many people can listen in. Teach your child how to avoid giving exact locations over the radio; agree to identify locations in ways other than using popular names or a specific address.
- Figure out a back-up plan. Decide how to best handle a situation if the batteries in the walkie-talkie die or there are ‘dead spots’ during transmission. For safety, make sure your child has all the phone numbers he or she needs to remain safe and secure.
- When camping or on the water, two-way radios should never replace the buddy system. Because of terrain, especially in wilderness areas, there may be dead spots where 2-ways can’t transmit. Have a plan for communicating when you’re not all together; make sure everyone in your party understands and agrees to it.
Two-way radios are the perfect solution for staying connected to all family members. And these 10 Tips For Children’s Safety can help you keep your kids safe.
