Safety tips and resources for students and parents
Illinois (KBSI) – Tips and Resources to help students better prepare for their return to school.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), along with local Emergency Management Agencies, are highlighting resources for students headed back to the classroom.
Students all over the region will head to school this week.
No matter what age, there are helpful resources available for students to keep them safe in the classroom throughout the school year.
“School safety includes being aware of on campus hazards, but we also need to utilize the digital resources available to us,” said Homeland Security Advisor to Governor J.B. Pritzker and IEMA-OHS Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “Safe2HelpIL is an outstanding start in providing a free resource to all students throughout the State of Illinois to help keep them safe.”
Listed below are ways children can reach out to receive help:
- Call 1-844-4SAFEIL (723345)
- Text SAFE2 (72332)
- Online at https://app.safe22helpil.com/
- Email HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com
- Download the Safe2HelpIL app (Android or iOS)
Planning tips for parents to consider in the event of an emergency:
- Know how your school will contact parents/guardians in the event of an evacuation
- Ensure the school has all of your current emergency contact information on file
- Pre-authorize a friend or relative to pick up your children in an emergency
- Teach children with cell phones about ‘Text First, Talk Later.’ Short, simple text messages, such as “R U OK?,” and “I’m OK,” are more likely to get through than a phone call if phone service is disrupted during an emergency. As phone congestion eases, you can follow up with a phone call to relay more information.
Safe2HelpIL was launched in October 2021, and is a free, information sharing platform that is available 24/7 for students who are in trouble or need someone to talk to.
