By Joseph Marks , Tribune staff writer

The Albert Lea Police Department responds to accidents and emergencies on a regular basis. For the past three years, Crime Prevention Officer Jim Stark has worked to stop accidents and emergencies before they happen.

Stark gives presentations at schools and businesses covering everything from abduction prevention to bike safety. He lectures on safety to driver’s education classes and, in conjunction with the Albert Lea Fire Department, conducts home safety surveys at the request of homeowners.

Stark described his presentations as low-tech, though many involve power-point presentations he designed himself.

Every other year, he helps organize a three-day safety camp for 8- and 9-year-olds with the Albert Lea Park and Recreation Department, Albert Lea Medical Center and the fire department.

&8220;Over three afternoons, we have safety presentations by guest speakers and also include fun and games,&8221; he said.

In 2004, the camp included a bike rodeo which taught bike safety. The Department of Natural Resources brought a boat in to teach water safety. State troopers brought a crash simulation machine and crash test dummies to demonstrate seat belt safety and Mayo One flew in to teach first aid.

Stark’s work is a mile wide, covering almost any situation where safety is an issue. Some safety tips follow:

Abductions

&8220;What I always want to stress,&8221; said Stark, &8220;is outright abductions by strangers are the first thing we hear about on TV and they’re the scariest thing, but they’re not the first thing we should be concerned about.&8221;

The majority of abductions, according to Stark, are done by people the child knows personally.

&8220;You have to know who you bring into your home,&8221; he said. &8220;If the person has a history of child abuse or pedophilia, don’t bring them into your home.

&8220;Locally, you can go up to the court and type in a person’s name and find out whatever crimes that person has been convicted of in Freeborn County.&8221;

Parents should look to their children’s reactions for people to be concerned about, according to Stark.

&8220;What it comes down to is if your child feels uncomfortable around someone, there may be a good reason for it,&8221; he said.

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Home alone

&8220;Some kids I wouldn’t leave home alone at 12 or 13,&8221; said Stark, &8220;because they aren’t able to handle it. Others you can leave home at that age. It varies from child to child.&8221;

The most important thing, when leaving children home alone, according to Stark, is to ensure a structured environment and plan ahead.

&8220;You can’t say one day, I’m going to work and leaving you home alone,&8221; he said. &8220;You have to start slow with trips to the store and build from there.&8221;

Children left home alone should know a work or cell phone number where parents can be reached, said Stark, and know how to get in touch with neighbors or family friends.

Children should also have clear rules when home alone including phone usage, friends who are allowed in the house and kitchen appliances they can use.

&8220;I think it’s always good for kids to be left with a short list of things to do if they’re home alone for an extended period,&8221; said Stark. &8220;It keeps them busy and gives them something to do other than look for things they normally wouldn’t be doing.&8221;

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Being lost

&8220;(If you’re in a store), you should go to a clerk or someone who works at the store,&8221; said Stark.

&8220;If you see another mom with children, that’s probably a safe person to approach and tell you’re lost.&8221;

Children who are too young to know their names and personal information should carry a piece of paper with that information in their pocket, said Stark. Visible name tags should be avoided, he said, because children will trust strangers who seem to know their names.

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Winter safety

&8220;The main thing, as far as I’m concerned,&8221; said Stark, &8220;is ice safety. Children should never be on ice by themselves. We’ve been very fortunate in this town with drownings in the winter. I don’t recall a drowning in Albert Lea during the winter time.&8221;

Parents should also make sure their children dress appropriately for the weather.

&8220;You see a lot of kids standing at the bus stop without proper clothing,&8221; said Stark. &8220;You start getting strong winds with below zero temperatures and frostbite can happen.&8221;

Parents should also limit the use of space heaters in the home and teach children to stay away from them, according to Stark.

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Guns in the home

&8220;There’s no reason anyone in the city of Albert Lea should have guns in the home and children in the home without the guns being locked up. Just because your child knows never to pick up a gun doesn’t mean the neighbor’s children won’t. And kids will be kids.&8221;

Parents should talk with their children to learn if the child’s friend’s homes have exposed guns, according to Stark. The parents can then either talk with the other child’s parents or not allow their child to go to that house.

(Contact Joseph Marks at joseph.marks@albertleatribune.com or at 379-3435.)