This Fall, nearly 57 million children across the country will head back to school. As always, the start of the academic year will bring excited kids, frenzied parents and loaded school buses on the road. With increased sporting activities and preparation for the holidays, don’t forget to slow down, especially in school zones, and use extra caution on the roads. Consider these safety tips to help protect our kids as they return to school.
- Be visible:
- – When choosing jackets, school bags and even footwear for your kids, go for bright products or products with reflective strips to help increase visibility. This is particularly important if your kids are going to be out and about early in the morning or after dark in the evening.
- Get the right gear:
- – Be sure your child wears a helmet if he/she rides a bicycle to school, no matter how long or short the route. Consider choosing a backpack with wide and padded shoulder straps. A rolling backpack is another good choice, if allowed by the school.
- Practice makes perfect:
- – Whether your child is walking or riding to school, be sure to practice the route with your child before the first day of school. Discuss traffic lights and rules of the road with your children and make sure that they obey road safety rules during the practice sessions. If your children are heading to school for the first time, it would be best to accompany them for a few days until you are confident that they will be able to handle the path alone.
- Predator alert:
- – Even after you’ve had the “stranger danger” talk with your child, don’t leave your child standing alone at the bus stop. Even when children are waiting in a group at the bus stop, it is safest to have an adult supervising them at all times.
- Set a pick-up password:
- – Set a “school pick up” password with your child, which can be used when you are running late or need another parent or adult to meet your child after school. Since only your child, the designated person and yourself will know the password, you decrease the risk of your child walking away with a stranger.
- Work with the school authorities:
- – Notify the school of any changes in contact information, so that they can get in touch with you immediately in case of an emergency. Furthermore, if your child suffers from a chronic health condition, discuss it with the school nurse and have an emergency plan in place.
- On-road safety:
- – Regardless of the mode of transportation used by your children, here are a few travel safety rules that you need to discuss with them:
- • Always us the bike route when riding a bicycle.
- • When riding on the street, ride the bike in the same direction as the traffic.
- • Follow all traffic signals and lights.
- • Never use headphones or cell phones when on the road, whether walking or riding.
- • Everybody should have their seat-belts buckled when in a vehicle.
- • Do not step off the curb when waiting at the bus stop and do not walk onto the road to board the bus until it comes to a complete halt.
- • Do not cross the street in the blind spots of the school bus driver.
- • Only walk on the sidewalk and in the opposite direction of the traffic.
- • Walk as far away from the road on the sidewalk as possible.
- • Stay seated while on the bus.
- • Look both ways for vehicles before crossing the road.
- – Regardless of the mode of transportation used by your children, here are a few travel safety rules that you need to discuss with them:
With a little vigilance and forward planning, you’ll help keep your kids safe as they start or get back to the academic year. Help your kids make these safety practices a habit, and give yourself some peace of mind.
