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American Red Cross
Back to School Safety Tips
August 20, 2019— The school bells are calling students back to the
classroom, and the American Red Cross wants to make sure your student
is safe as they head back to school for the upcoming year.
“While safety is a top priority for all students, there are special
steps for parents of younger kids and those that might be heading home
alone for the first time,” said Lynne Gump, Executive Director of the
Northern Miami Valley Ohio Chapter. “Make sure the child knows their
phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work,
how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to dial 911.”
Here’s some quick tips to share with your kids concerning School bus safety:
If children ride a bus to school, they should plan to get to their bus
stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to
arrive.
Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Teach your child to board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver has instructed them to get on.
Make sure your student always stays in clear view of the bus driver and never walks behind the bus.
For the kids, not riding a bus:
If children go to school in a car, they should always wear a seat belt.
That morning commute is often hurried and hectic, take the time to
check and see if they are buckled in safely.
If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents should mandate that
they should not text or make calls use their cell phone and should
avoid eating or drinking while driving.
Some students ride their bike to school. They should always wear a
helmet and ride on the right in the same direction as the traffic is
going.
When children are walking to school, they should only cross the street
at an intersection, and use a route along which the school has placed
crossing guards. Parents should walk young children to school, along
with children taking new routes or attending new schools, at least for
the first week to ensure they know how to get there safely. Arrange for
the kids to walk to school with a friend or classmate.
Of course, for all those drivers on the road, let’s remember that school is back in session:
Drivers should be aware that children are out walking or biking to
school and slow down, especially in residential areas and school zones.
Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or
approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Motorists following
or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop 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. If 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. Do not proceed until all
the children have reached a place of safety.
Lastly, let’s make sure to have a family disaster plan and to discuss
it with everyone in the household. Know what the emergency plan
is at your child’s school in case a disaster or an unforeseen event
occurs. Develop a family emergency plan so everyone will know who to
contact and where to go if something happens while children are at
school and parents are at work. Details are available at
redcross.org/prepare.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support
to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's
blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international
humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The
Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers
and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For
more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org,
or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @CincyDayARC
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