As the year starts, observe safe practices getting your kids to school.
With the excitement of a new school year beginning, it can be easy for kids to forget to put safety first. It's a good time to review a few basic safety tips to help get the new school year off to a good start.
Teaching or reviewing basic "stranger danger" rules is important. Children can have a hard time understanding who a "stranger" may be. Take the time to explain the difference between good and bad strangers. Examples of good strangers include police officers, firefighters, teachers or store clerks. These are people a child can turn to if they are lost or feel threatened.
Remind your child to always be aware of their surroundings and to use the buddy system so they don't walk anywhere alone. Children should trust their instincts; if something doesn't seem right they should get help immediately. They should never go anywhere with or take anything from someone they don't know well. If someone tries to grab them, they should yell, kick, scream and do whatever they can to get away and get help. Have a secret code word to use in emergency situations. If you can't pick your child up from school, make sure the person you send knows the secret code word. Your child should never go with anyone who doesn't know the code word. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has a helpful website at www.missingkids.com/Publications/Saftey for more information.
Traffic safety is also a concern; more than 2,800 school-aged children were killed in traffic related crashes in 2010, and most of those deaths occurred in the after-school hours of 3 and 4 p.m. Here are some tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
As they walk to school, children should stay on sidewalks where possible, or stay as far as possible off the roadway if there is no sidewalk. It's best to walk on the left side of the street so walkers can see oncoming traffic - and so drivers can see them. Always use a crosswalk to cross the street, look both ways carefully, and don't cross if there is a car coming or unless traffic is at a full stop. Pushing, shoving and other kinds of horseplay are never a good idea when kids are near a busy street.
If students are biking to school, they should always wear a helmet, and ride on bike paths or on the sidewalk, not in the street.
Parents who drive their kids to school need to be extra cautious. Watch for children in crosswalks, obey the signals of crossing guards, and check all mirrors carefully before pulling into or away from the drop-off point. It also goes without saying that all kids need to be buckled up, if necessary in the safety or booster seat appropriate for their size.
Kids who ride the bus to school need to be aware of safety concerns as well. Remind children to stay well away from the curb when they are waiting for the bus, and only approach the bus when it comes to a stop and the driver opens the door. Once on board, students should go right to their seat and obey the bus driver's instructions. Watch for cars when getting off the bus, and move away from the curb and onto the sidewalk right away.
Other drivers need to remember that Wisconsin law requires you to come to a complete stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus with its red warning lights flashing, whether approaching from the front or back. Never pass a stopped school bus! Failure to obey these laws can earn drivers a hefty fine and points taken off your driver's license. Also, remember to slow down and follow the reduced speed limit signs in school zones.
I hope you have a safe and happy start to the new school year!