Back-to-School Safety Tips
August 12, 2019 Safety and Security Megan Ragan
At dusk, the lulling sound of cicadas signal that summer is ending. It also signals that school is starting, and a panic is rising in all of us who have younger children or grandchildren. We’re not ready. We’re not ready for the early morning hectic schedule, the parent meetings, the lunches, the agonizing nights of homework . . .
But we can be ready for safety. The following tips should be practiced all year long, but the beginning of school is a good time for a solid review with your children, no matter what their age.
Transportation Safety
In the United States, an average of 61 young people are hit by cars every day according to Safe Kids Worldwide. These accidents occur most often before and after school with the peak in September, when school is in full swing. Teenagers are most at risk of being hit since they are tightly tied to their technology like cell phones or iPods.
Walking
Plan a walking route to the school or bus stop. Walk the route with your child beforehand. Talk with them about the following safety tips while walking to school:
· Never text or talk on the phone.
· If it’s necessary to text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk.
· Never cross the street while listening to music or using a phone.
· Do not walk with headphones on.
· Always be aware of surroundings.
· Do not talk to or accept rides from strangers.
· Always walk on the sidewalk if one is available. If the street has no sidewalk, children should walk facing oncoming traffic.
· Cross only at crosswalks.
· Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
· Make eye contact with drivers.
· Do not stray from the route.
Busing
According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “the greatest risk to your child is not riding a bus but approaching or leaving one.”
The following are tips from the NHTSA for your children to observe as bus riders:
· Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus.
· Wait at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb.
· Do not attempt to pick up any dropped items near the bus until the driver is alerted.
· Before approaching the bus doors, wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver grants permission.
· Never walk behind a school bus.
· Before crossing in front of a bus, walk on the sidewalk to an area at least five giant steps (10 feet) ahead of the bus and make eye-contact with the driver.
· Understand the flashing light system.
· Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children.
· Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off.
Driving
A study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) concludes that the most common form of travel to school for students age 5 to 14 is the family car. The best way to keep youth safe is for all involved, drivers and students, to remain alert and vigilant throughout the year.
The following are tips to observe while driving:
· Don’t just slow down in your own neighborhood. Observe the speed limits in every neighborhood along the entire route.
· Always watch for children who may not be paying attention.
· Watch for youth walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in a neighborhood.
· Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.
· Students arriving late for the bus may run into the street without looking for traffic.
· Be especially vigilant with speed and the surroundings in school crossing zones.
· Never pass a stopped school bus with flashing lights.
· Don’t text. One moment of inattention could mean a child’s life.