Saturday, October 12, 2024
As children return to school, safety remains a key concern for parents and caregivers. The Red Cross offers tips for both children and drivers to make this school year a safe one.
If your student is going to school for the first time, be sure they know their name, phone number address and how to get in touch with their parents, as well as how to call another trusted adult and call 911. Stress to them the importance of not talking to strangers or accepting rides from people they don’t know.
Teach young children first attending school for the first time to walk on the sidewalk; if no sidewalk is present, they should walk facing traffic. Show them how to look left and right to make sure no cars are coming. Crossing the street at the corner, obeying traffic signals and staying in the crosswalk are all important lessons. Stress never running out into the street or in between parked cars.
If you have a student taking the bus, they should be taught to get to the bus stop early and stand away from the curb while they wait for the bus to arrive. Boarding the bus should only be done once the bus has come to a complete stop and they have been instructed by the bus driver or attendant to board the bus. They should never board another bus, and they should stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.
A student who rides their bike to school should always wear a helmet and ride on the right in the same direction the traffic is going.
A child who is driven to school should be taught that passengers wear a seat belt at all times. Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly, which is between the ages of 8-12 for most children with a height over 4’9.” Children should ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.
If you have a teenager driving to school, make sure they use seatbelts. Stress to them the importance of not using their cell phone while at the wheel and to avoid eating or drinking beverages while driving.
Parents who are considering acquiring a cell phone for their children can download the free Red Cross First Aid and Emergency Apps to give them access to first aid tips for common emergencies and real-time weather alerts. Find the apps in the smart phone app store by searching the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
If your student is on a sports team, make sure they wear protective gear, protective pads, etc. Remind them to warm up and cool down and stress the importance of staying hydrated. Also encourage them watch out for others. Athletes should know the location of the closest first aid kit and AED.
Drivers, too, need to freshen up on the protocol for driving during the school year. The most important thing to remember is to slow down. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is getting ready to stop so slow down and be prepared to stop. Red flashing lights indicate the bus is stopped and children are boarding or exiting the bus.
Motorists must stop when they are behind the bus, meeting the bus or approaching the intersection where they bus is stopped. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must stop also until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn and all children have reached safety. This includes two and four-lane highways.
Where physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
As the new school year proceeds, it is prudent to remember these safety tips and remind students throughout the year.
