Summer a time to teach safety to children

Just after 11 Tuesday morning, Sonia and Doylene Pierre heard a knock at their front door. The girls, who were home alone watching television, looked out the window and didn’t recognize the man in the orange shirt standing outside.

They didn’t answer the door.

Moments later the girls heard a door at the rear of the house being opened and a heavy cabinet their mother had recently placed in front of the door being moved. Sonia, 12, grabbed the telephone and the girls ran to the bathroom where they proceeded to call their father, Doy Pierre, at work. He told the girls to call 911.

Deputies later found two men, Lorenzo Martinez-Alvarez, 24, and Fernando Rodriguez-Lozano, 32, walking nearby. Doylene, 10, identified Martinez-Alvarez as the man at the door. Both men were arrested on burglary charges.

“Of course I’m proud of them,” Doy Pierre said. “They listened to me and did exactly what I told them to do.”

Authorities say it is important for parents to review safety procedures regularly. It is especially important in the summer when school is out, parents are working, and there are times when children may be left at home unsupervised, Collier County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kristin Adams said.

“Kids are out of school, so a lot of them don’t have organized activities during the day,” Adams said. “Some of them may tend to explore the neighborhood or engage in activities that are not the safest.”

There is no law on the books that says at what age it is appropriate to leave a child home alone, Adams said. She said it comes down to how mature and self-sufficient a child is.

“If there are any doubts you have about your child or another child being able to stay home alone, then they shouldn’t stay home alone,” Adams said.

For children who are going to be home alone at times during the summer, the Sheriff’s Office offers a number of safety tips.

First, as Sonia and Doylene demonstrated, never open a door for a stranger. If a child expects a repairman or other professional to visit the house, they should always ask for identification before opening the door.

If a child feels threatened by someone outside, they should call 911 and ask for help, Adams said.

“Calling 911 is not for a prank or to make a joke,” Adams said. “Making a false report is against the law. Only call 911 for a serious situation or if you feel you’re in danger.”

Adams said it is important for children to know their address and phone number, and they should have a way to get in touch with their parents during the day. When answering the phone, children should never tell a stranger they are home alone, Adams said.

Susan Hutter of Golden Gate Estates said that is the rule for her 13-year-old daughter, Elisabeth, and her two 15-year-old sons, Mitchel and Andrew.

“If the phone rings, I’m on the property, even if I’m not,” Hutter said.

Doy Pierre said he has told his daughters not to even answer the phone unless his or his wife’s number appears on the caller ID.

“They always know what to do in case something like that happens,” Doy Pierre said.

Adams said that children who are home alone should keep the doors locked at all times.

“If you go out for any reason, just unlock whatever door you’re closest to,” Adams said.

Other suggestions the Sheriff’s Office has for children who stay home alone include using the buddy system whenever they go anywhere without their parents, staying on main roads and sidewalks, staying away from swimming pools, taking breaks from playing outside in the sun and drinking plenty of water.

Lou Fodor, 38, of Fort Myers recently was shopping with his three children, Louie, 13, Lexi, 8, and Lance, 7, at Coastland Center mall in Naples. Youngsters of all ages were roaming the mall that day unsupervised. Fodor said he never leaves his children home alone and sometimes brings them to work with him.

Fodor said safety is an important issue in their home. The family even has a board game called “Don’t Talk to Strangers” they play on occasion.

“It teaches the young kids everything about where they live, their phone number, their address and how to get hold of your parents,” Fodor said. “Teaching your kids to watch out for each other is part of being a parent.”

The Sheriff’s Office said parents should discuss summer safety tips with their children regularly and should consider keeping youngsters busy by enrolling them in a public or private summer camp or program.

“It’s all about common sense and keeping yourself safe,” Adams said. “You play a part in your own safety.”