Safety First - 10 Tips to Keep Kids Safe Using Two-way Radios

Communication is crucial for keeping your children safe—especially when they’re not at home with you. Two-way radios make it easy for you and your child to remain in touch throughout every day. And staying in touch means staying safe.

Using 2-way radios is very simple. There are several models to choose from, each with a variety of features to meet all your communication needs. The handsets are lightweight and easy to carry, making these walkie-talkies fun for kids to use.

10 Safety Tips For Kids

1. Know how to use your two way radio. Make sure both you and your child know how to use the handsets on the model you’ve purchased. Practice while standing a block away from each other so you both know what to expect when using the radios.

2. Establish a call pattern with your child. Determine which channel you’ll use and when you’ll meet on the radio. Then agree how often you’ll check in with each other.

3. Test the range beforehand. When your child is walking to a friend’s house or park, establish a route. Then check in with each other along that route so you’re sure there are no “dead spots”.

4. Before leaving home, check the batteries in both 2-way radio handsets. AAA batteries generally do not last as long as AA batteries, so be sure to check them more often. If in doubt, always have your child carry a spare set. Between call-in times, the radio can also be turned off to preserve battery life.

5. Always keep extra batteries for the two-way handsets on hand. If the batteries are rechargeable, make sure they remain charged and available at all times. Some Motorola two way radios have a battery power-save function; this slows the battery power expenditure when the handset remains on for long periods.

6. Purchase walkie-talkie sets sturdy enough to withstand your child’s activities. If your child is extremely active and the handset needs extra protection, consider purchasing a rugged case for it.

7. Never talk to strangers. Because 2-way radios are not private, your child can be approached by strangers over the airwaves. Teach them how to best handle this situation and ways to remain safe.

8. Remember you’re sharing channels with others and many people can listen in. Teach your child how to avoid giving exact locations over the radio; agree to identify locations in ways other than using popular names or a specific address.

9. Figure out a back-up plan. Decide how to best handle a situation if the batteries in the walkie-talkie die or there are ‘dead spots’ during transmission. For safety, make sure your child has all the phone numbers he or she needs to remain safe and secure.

10. When camping or on the water, two-way radios should never replace the buddy system. Because of terrain, especially in wilderness areas, there may be dead spots where 2-ways can’t transmit. Have a plan for communicating when you’re not all together; make sure everyone in your party understands and agrees to it.

Two-way radios are the perfect solution for staying connected to all family members. And these 10 Tips For Children’s Safety can help you keep your kids safe.