Cleveland Metroparks is a great place to enjoy nature and recreation. However, when in the Park District, remember to practice the same personal safety routines you would anywhere else.

If faced with an emergency, notify the ranger department immediately by calling (440)333-4911. Contact the nearest Park District employee who will alert the ranger department, or call 911.

Also, remember these personal safety tips:

• Be aware of nearby people and vehicles.

• If using headphones, let them hang around the neck. It's important to hear, as well as see, what's happening in the vicinity.

• If it's necessary to call for help, be able to relay an exact location by knowing the nearest Park District area, intersection, or major landmark.

• When possible, visit Cleveland Metroparks with a friend or in a group.

• Avoid isolated areas. Keep roadways in sight, especially if alone.

• Carry a whistle to make a loud noise in an emergency

• Always be observant, particularly of suspicious people. If someone becomes a crime victim, a good description will assist in identifying the attacker.

• If you become a crime victim, yell or scream. Do not risk injury by chasing or fighting with an attacker.

• Have an avenue of escape in mind. In the event of an attack, know where to run. Head towards the nearest roadway or a park facility. Do not run towards the woods.

• If a vehicle is involved in a crime, try to get the license plate number. It could prove essential in assisting the rangers' investigation.

• If jogging along the parkway in dusk or dawn hours, wear bright clothing or a reflective vest.

• If bicycling on the parkway, ride with traffic in the right lane and obey traffic laws.

CHILD SAFETY

For a child, Cleveland Metroparks can be an enticing place to explore. It can also be a dangerous place to play. When in the Park District, parents should always know the whereabouts of their children. Parents should remember that while visiting Cleveland Metroparks, they are responsible for the supervision of their own children.

• Young children should never be allowed to venture off by themselves.

• Keep close visual contact with children at all times, especially if a roadway or body of water is nearby.

• Teach children they should never talk to strangers, or accept invitations to go anywhere with someone they don't know.

• Educate children about rangers and police officers. Explain they are there to help, and that it's okay for an officer to assist them.

• Teach children how to contact help in an emergency.

VEHICLE SAFETY

When parking a car in Cleveland Metroparks, try to follow these crime prevention suggestions:

• Lock car doors and close the windows after checking to make sure keys are removed from the vehicle.

• Have keys ready when returning to the car.

• Take a flashlight at night to check the interior of the car before entering.

• In the event of car trouble, contact the ranger department at (440) 331-5530.

• Lock any and all valuables (purses, wallets, cell phones, cameras, etc.) in the trunk.

• Engrave social security number on portable items like cameras, portable stereos and removable tape decks.

• Keep an updated record of serial numbers and credit card numbers at home. Have it available for police in the event of a theft.

• Install a locking gas cap so a thief can't siphon gas.

• Consider the use of a steering wheel lock or install an alarm system.

• Keep a pen and paper in the car for notes in the event of a crime.

Personal Safety brochure