Personal Safety for Refugees: A Guide for Volunteers

When a refugee is moving about his or her new city for the first time, there are likely things that he or she needs to know about living in the new surroundings. Even if the refugee is from an urban area and is very street smart, there is still new information to learn about living as safely as possible in the U.S.

One thing that should be stressed to refugees is that police are to be trusted and approached for help, if the need arises. There is often mistrust of police in refugees' home countries, and they may not be as likely to ask for help from an officer if they need help. It's also important to help refugees discern what a police officer can help out with and what they can't. For example, there is no need to ask an officer for help with a public assistance application or school enrollment. These are questions for a case manager from the resettlement agency with which the refugee works.

A fire safety orientation is very important as well. If possible, having a fireman from the local station do a short presentation on fire safety for a group of refugees is a great way to help refugees learn about fire alarms, escaping from multi-story buildings, stop/drop/roll, etc.

Learning to use 911 appropriately is a vital skill for newly-arrived refugees as well. They must learn quickly that it is only for medical emergencies (define medical emergency), fire, or if the police are needed. Reminding them that it is illegal to misuse the service is also helpful.

Other personal safety tips such as it being a good idea to go out in groups at night, covering one's ATM pin card with one hand while getting cash, learning to recognize and not respond to mail/phone/e-mail/Internet scams, using crosswalks, watching one's children at all times, not carrying large amounts of cash when one is out, teaching children not to talk to strangers, and not blindly trusting everyone who says they want to help are other points to cover when helping refugees navigate their new life safely.

Ask your local police department and fire department for more information and handouts to provide at safety orientations. Visit hospital, police, and fire department websites for down-loadable information and more helpful advice. Make sure that you also communicate with your refugee mentoree's case manager and your volunteer coordinator about this topic.