The goal of the KV monthly MRIR Message is to educate you on circumstances that increase the level of risk to you or your family with regard to personal safety and thereby enable you to manage it more effectively. For example, knowing that most sexual crimes are crimes of opportunity should impact how you and your children view your surroundings.

Do you know when you're at risk?
What raises your risk level when jogging? What raises your risk level in a parking lot or your child’s at a playground? Do you know what circumstances and/or behaviors increase your risk level? Driving a car may not seem risky to you, but your risk level continues to increase when you drive that car after dark, when you have a flat tire, when you forgot your cell phone, when a stranger offers to help, and so on. We need to be conscious of what we are doing to elevate our risk – that is managing risk.

Who is most at risk?

How do you reduce risk?
Law enforcement knows that it is possible for anyone at any age to reduce his or her risk of becoming a victim. The way to do that is through awareness and education. Think of your decisions as being on a scale we call the Risk Meter that goes from safe (blue zones) to unsafe (red zones). Decisions you make can move you toward safety or away from it. Jogging with headsets on moves you away from safety; jogging through an isolated area with headsets on moves you into the red zone. Taking an opened drink is a red zone decision. Allowing yourself or your children to be isolated or alone with someone is a red zone decision. That doesn’t mean you or they will always be victimized, but it does mean that you have increased the level of risk and put the odds in favor of a perpetrator.

What can you do to manage risk?
Law enforcement knows that it is possible for anyone at any age to reduce his or her risk of becoming a victim. The way to do that is through education. Education is the most critical and advanced element we have to protect ourselves and others. We can manage our risk more effectively if we know what puts us at risk and what steps can be taken to reduce that risk.

What can you do now to start managing risk?

Visit www.kindervision.org. Have a family discussion using the risk meter. Identify the risk level in a variety of situations. Talk about what circumstances could change that level to higher or lower. Stress the danger of isolation and the inability to think clearly. Talk about the risk meter as it applies to daily life several times a week to reinforce the concept with family members.

KV Safety Tip for 6 and under: Always take an adult with you when you go to a public restroom.
KV Safety Tip for ‘Tweens: Avoid walking and hanging around isolated areas.
KV Safety Tip for Teens and Older: Arrange to drive yourself or have your family or the mom take you home after babysitting.