Mount Isa police attended a Girl Guides night on June 5 to help girls plan for their preparedness badges.

Preparedness includes taking the time to plan for personal and property safety around the home, said Sergeant Cath Purcell.

“We talked about preparedness for lots of things in life, and why it’s important to talk to your family about safety,” Srg Purcell said.

One of the best things young people can do to increase online safety is to have regular conversations with their families, Srg Purcell said.

The group discussed life on social media and the concept of an ‘internet shadow’ or digital footprint made up of information about an individual, stored online.

Scamming threats are also on the rise and scams are something young people should be aware of, said Srg Purcell.

“Scams are frequently changing as some people try to make a dollar, so it’s important to stay up to date.”

Locking doors and windows to ensure property is safe can be a big help for mums and dads too, she said.

They also talked about Neighbourhood Watch and how they help communities in real life.

The girls received Neighbourhood Watch packs to help them further towards their medal.

Girl Guide leader Jarli (Leanne) Edge has completed her leadership qualification in Longreach last weekend.