Your feelings tell you that you are safe with some people. For example: Your mom or dad, brothers or sisters. Your grandparents. Teachers at school. Police officers.

People that you do not know very well can mean danger. You may meet these people anywhere, e.g., street, store, movie theater, playground.  These people are strangers.

What is a stranger?

• A stranger is someone that you do not know or your parents do not know.
• Strangers are even people you see every day.
• Strangers can come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages. Even a teenager could be considered a stranger to you.

Safety Rules for Dealing with Strangers 

• Never talk to a stranger.
• Never go near a stranger.
• Never accept gifts or rides from a stranger.
• If a stranger comes toward you, step backwards, turn around and run away.
• Never go anywhere with a stranger.
• Report strangers to your parents, teachers, bus drivers, or a responsible adult that you know well.

Examples of Stranger Scenarios

• What should you do if a stranger asks you for help or offers you candy, a toy, or a pet?  Say “NO,” turn around and run away.
• What should you do if a stranger asks you to go for a ride in their car?  Say “NO,” and run in the opposite direction that the car is going.
• What should you do if a stranger tries to grab you?  You can yell for help!  You can kick, scratch, or bite!  You can run away as fast as you can.
• What should you do if a stranger has a gun and tells you to go with him?  Yell for HELP!  Run away as fast as you can, and continue yelling for help.  Go tell an adult.
• Always remember to tell your parents, a police officer, a teacher, a bus driver, or another adult you trust and know about what happened as soon as possible.