Back to School Safety

Summer is starting to come to a close. As your little ones head back to school have you thought of all the safety concerns they may face while away from the house? Here are some important tips to teach your children as school kicks back into gear.

Child transportation to and from school can be one of the most nerve-racking experiences for parents. It is extremely important that your kids take adequate safety precautions.

Walking

• Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on streets with no sidewalk always walk facing traffic
• Before crossing the street, stop and look in both directions ensuring there are no cars and it is safe to cross
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections
• Stay alert and avoid distracted walking

Biking

• Ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic, in a single file line
• Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; always walk bikes across the street
• Stay alert and avoid distracted driving
• Make sure your child is equipped with a properly fitted helmet

Bus Riders

• Go to the bus stop with your child so you can teach them the proper way to on and off the bus
• Teach your kids to stand six feet (or three large steps) away from the curb
• If your child needs to cross the street in front of a bus, teach them to walk on the side of the road until they are roughly ten feet ahead of the bus so that the bus driver can see the child

Driving Your Child to School

• Obey school zone speed limits and follow your school’s drop-off procedure
• Make eye contact with children crossing the street
• Never pass a bus loading/unloading children
• Stop far enough back from the bus to ensure the safety of the children loading/unloading

Teen Drivers

• Practice driving with your teen every week before and after they get their license
• Set a good example for how they should drive

Many injuries that occur at school are completely preventable. Follow these guidelines to ensure your children do not get hurt.

Backpacks

• Ask your children to use both straps when wearing their backpack to evenly distribute the weight
• Do not overstuff a backpack; heaving bags can slowly injure a child especially if they are carrying them continuously throughout the day
• Rolling backpacks should be used cautiously as they tend to cause students to trip and fall

Playgrounds and Sports

• Have your child leave necklaces and jackets with drawstrings at home to reduce the event of choking/strangulation
• It is expected that your child may encounter some mild injuries while playing. Head injuries on the other hand should never be ignored

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