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STAYINGSAFE

Top Travel tips
button Look confident. Walk and look as if you know what you are doing.
button Don’t walk with your head down and your hands in your pockets.
button Stay alert. Leave your personal stereo off. Make sure your stereo and mobile are not on show.
button Keep to well lit areas.
button Stay close to a mix of other people especially if there are mums with children or a family group. Its always safer to have a mix of different types of people around you – avoid people who are in the same group.
button If a person approaches you and you are concerned, move away if the person follows you, go quickly to a place where there are lots of other people, such as a busy shop or ticket office and tell someone what’s going on. If you can, choose a British Transport Police officer, or a member of the station staff these people will always be in uniform or wear an identity badge. You could also go to a family group rather than a single adult and tell them your concerns.
button Always report this kind of thing to the police or someone in authority, even if the incident is over. You will not be wasting their time.
button Carry a torch or whistle, or better still , a very noisy screech or shrill alarm. They are not expensive and if you carry a personal alarm, you will feel more confident.
button If you start to be frightened, try not to panic. Always try to think how you could get out of the situation.
Always plan your journey, working out how you get there and back.
Make sure you have enough money for the journey back and enough for a phone call.
Always let someone know where you are going – preferably your parents or carer.
Invest in a phone card and always carry it with you. If you don’t have a phone card or any money ,remember you can always make a phone call by reversing the charges.
If you lose your fare home or your ticket you can speak to the guard, ticket collector or driver and explain. Give your name and address and the company will write to your home for payment. Carry some type of identification so you can prove who you are.
Never be tempted to walk home alone, especially if it is dark or you are unsure of the area.
Never hitch a lift. You do not know who will stop or where they may take you.
If you have absolutely no other safe why of getting home, call 999: the police will help you.
If you are frightened or think you may be in danger, call 999.
If you have had a bad experience, or seen someone in danger always report it to the police.
You will not only be helping yourself, but you could also be helping someone else to stay safe.
On railway stations and trains
button If you are on an empty platform or there are people in or around the railway station , you can usually stay near the ticket office, or the ticket collector, until the train appears.
button Keep your valuables secure and hidden from view, this includes headphones. Wallets and purses should be keep in inside pockets. Bags carried forward, with your hand on it.
button If you have a heavy bag or box, keep it close, don’t leave it several metres away – it only takes a second to snatch something.
button Always stand behind the yellow or white safety line painted near the edge of most platforms, at some stations trains do not stop and travel through at speed.
button Take extra care when stepping on and off trains. Look before you step and “mind the gap”
At the bus stop and bus station
button If you are catching a bus, try and use a busy, well lit place, with lots of people walking by.
button If you need to ask directions, go to someone from the bus company rather than a stranger. If you do have to ask a stranger, never tell them the exact address you are going to – give them the name of the nearest main road or distinctive building – If they ask you how your getting home from there tell them someone's meeting you at the bus stop.
button At the bus station, if you are not sure about bus times or where to find your bus, always ask the transport staff or at the information desk – they are there to help you.
button When you do get on the bus you can always check with the driver.
button If you can, always plan your route before you travel.
Safety near waterways
Hidden objects under the water
Broken glass, metal and sharp rocks can be dangerous beneath the surface.
Some types of plants can make the surface of water look like solid earth, or disguise the depth of the water. Ponds in particular can sometimes be clogged by vegetation and give the impression of being safe to walk on.

Water
Cold water can be extremely cold and can cause the body to shut down very quickly and without warning.
If the water is not clear it can sometimes be impossible to see how deep the water is. Even in clear water it may be difficult to estimate the depth.
Most water is untreated and may contain disease-causing bacteria. This can cause illness if swallowed or infect any cuts or abrasions on the skin.

Ice
Ice may look strong enough to hold your weight, but you can never tell how thick or strong the ice is. Even ice that looks thick on the surface may have hidden weak areas in various places.

Currents
Rivers, lakes and reservoirs can have strong currents. You cannot usually see them and they can drag you under the water very quickly, even canals can have strong, hidden currents. At the base of waterfalls there are strong currents caused by the turbulent water which can suck you under and prevent you re-surfacing.

Getting too close to the edge
Getting too close to a waterway can be dangerous. Plants may hide the danger and prevent you from seeing the edge. You can sometimes lose your balance or trip over tree roots that grow close to the edge of the water.