Whether your child uses a cell phone or a regular landline phone, there are safety rules they should follow. If there is an emergency, does your child know what to do? Does your child know who to tell if they are being harassed over the phone? Below are five easy tips to keep your child safe.

• Charged and Ready to Go &mdash Make sure your child keeps their cell phone and any cordless home phones charged. If there is an emergency the last thing they need to worry about is a dead phone.
• Emergency Calls &mdash First, does your child know how to call 911 for help? Second, do they know who to contact in an emergency?
• Home Alone &mdash Instruct your child to never divulge that they are home alone when someone calls and asks to talk to their parents. It's much safer for your child to say their parent can't come to the phone right now.
• Phone Threats &mdash Make sure your child understands that it is not acceptable to be harassed either verbally or through texting on the phone. Then, ensure they know who to tell if that situation arises.
• Texting &mdash Tell your child to not divulge personal information while texting, because any text message can be intercepted.

Teaching your child these few rules can make them that much safer in a dangerous or emergency situation.