Students’ encounter with stranger renews safety awareness | DrumhellerMail
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Last updateThu, 12 Dec 2024 5pm

Students’ encounter with stranger renews safety awareness

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    Parents are asked to review safety practices with their children after an incident involving two DCHS students raised some concern.
    Two female students were returning to school on Monday, January 18 at noon when they were approached by a man asking them for their assistance to try and get his truck unlocked. The students declined, however the man asked them again for assistance and began to walk towards the youngsters. The students fled the scene and returned to school.
    No one was harmed in the incident.
    This week, students at DCHS, Greentree School and St. Anthony’s School took home letters from administration to inform parents about the event. The letter says police have been informed about the incident and statements have been taken.
    Anne Morgan, principal at Greentree School says teachers have reviewed with students basic safety practices when dealing with strangers. The letter serves as a reminder to parents to review basic safety concepts including:
• Not to walk alone.
• Do not talk to strangers.
•    Stick to known routes and avoid alleyways.
•    Under no circumstances, get into a vehicle, or try to assist others.
• If you feel threatened, run to a house for safety, or call out loudly or scream.
• If there is an incident, report it to the school administration and your parents.
    Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins told inSide Drumheller these sort of incidents are uncommon.
    “It is very rare. It is not a common occurrence to say the least. Most parents have done a good job in street-proofing their kids, but this brings renewal to the urgency,” he said. “It’s like a fire drill. The more you practice, the more you bring it to the surface, the quicker people will react to it and realize this isn’t right, this is what I should do.”

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