Some simple tips to keep your kids safe...

Hi everyone....

Everyone has read the disturbing news about knife attacks in Chinese schools, not to mention back home in the USA and Europe. Here are a few simple tips from Circle of Iron Martial Arts club of Beijing to keep your kids safe!

# 1.) Choose a school with good security! This should be a no-brainer, but it's essential that you choose a school that has a good security system in place. I don't mean a school that has a couple of skinny underpaid teenage Chinese security guards at the gate. They should have an organized security system and locked gates. Parents should show ID and be let in and out by guards and the gate should be locked after parent's ID's are checked. This might seem like overkill and tedious to show ID, but it's important that strangers are not allowed into the school for any reason whatsoever. All school staff should have background checks ideally, but this might not happen in China. It's best if you choose a school that only hires licensed teachers and not just travelers or backpackers. Many schools call themselves international schools, but actually will hire anyone with a Western face without any type of background check. It's not hard for any Western person to get a job as a teacher in Chinese schools and these people are rarely screened so make sure that the school does background checks on all staff. (not that the staff may attack your children, but there may be other problems that I don't need to mention.) Meet and talk to the teachers and staff yourself before choosing a school and make sure they have a good security policy and locked gates.

#2.) Teach kids how to recognize danger---If a stranger shows up at the school and starts yelling or acting strangely, the kids should know where the door is and how to escape. We don't want to scare kids or make them paranoid, but they should know when to get out and where to go for sanctuary should anything bad happen.

#3.) Kids should memorize their address and phone number--another no-brainer, but believe it or not, some kids don't know their mom and dad's phone number. Keep your phone available and on at all times and make sure your child knows the number.

#4.) Don't talk to strangers....we all know this one, but in China its a different culture and kids often talk to strangers here. Once again, don't be paranoid or go overboard with it. The child can be polite and say good morning, but of course we should teach them not to go anywhere with a stranger and to tell mom and dad if anyone makes them feel uncomfortable.

Attacks at school still are very rare and Beijing is a very safe city, especially considering the huge population but we should always be as safe as we can.

If your child is very young, its better to just teach them some simple things about being safe and don't mention anything that might make them afraid. If they are older, you can teach them a bit more. Martial arts classes are a good way to build up fitness and self esteem, but a child won't be able to physically fight a full grown adult so it's best to teach them to escape to a safe haven where they can make a phone call..

If they see a knife or weapon, putting on a backpack with books in it on the front side of their body covering their vital organs will offer a bit of protection and putting obstacles such as their desks and chairs in the way of an attacker might buy some time but it's best to teach them to run fast and get away and they should know where to go for safety.

Circle of Iron Fighting Arts will be donating our time and giving some free safety seminars in schools around Beijing so if you are interested, just let your school know and perhaps we can come and give a free seminar about safety and escaping danger.