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Back
To School Safety
It's
that time again! School will be starting soon so it's time for parents
and students to start thinking about getting to school safely whether
the form of transportation is riding the bus, walking, biking, or
riding in a car.
Riding
the Bus. School bus transportation is safe. In fact, buses are
safer than cars! Even so, most students reported injured were, not
so much in a crash, but hurt entering and exiting the bus. Remember
these safety tips:
- Have
a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the street.
- Stay
away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver
signals you to enter.
- When
being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away
from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also,
remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back
away from the bus.
- Use
the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
- Stay
away from the bus until the driver gives his/her signal that it's
okay to approach.
Be
aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to
follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses, however,
not all do. Protect yourself and watch out!
Walking and Biking to School. Even if you don't ride in a motor
vehicle, you still have to protect yourself. Pedestrian injuries are
the second leading cause of unintentional death among children ages
5 to 14. Children who walk to school or to a bus stop must be reminded
to:
- Look
left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
- Always
try to cross a street where a crossing guard is present.
- Walk
your bike through intersections.
- Walk
with a buddy.
- Wear
reflective material - it makes you more visible to street traffic.
Riding in a Car. You might have heard that most traffic crashes
occur close to home…they do. But by following a few fundamental
safety guidelines, you can minimize your chances of being involved
in a mishap.
- Safety
belts are the best form of protection passengers have in the event
of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury by 45%.
- You
are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed if
ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
- Everyone
needs to be buckled up properly. That means older kids in seat
belts, younger kids in booster seats, and little kids in child
safety seats.
Another
good source of information: The National Safety Council's Youth Activities
Division, in cooperation with the National Children's Center for Rural
Agricultural Health and Safety, is proud to present "A Safer
Site.", http://www.nsc.org/mem/youth/calendar.htm.
Its an excellent source whether you're 11, 19 or somewhere in between,
a parent, a teacher or youth group advisor .
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