| As we pack our K-12 kids up and get them ready for | | | | ? Always be prepared to stop. |
| another school year, we need to be constantly thinking | | | | ? Wear brightly colored clothing. |
| about their safety. This applies both to their travel to | | | | ? Don't wear headphones, loose clothing or |
| and from school and their safety while on school | | | | inappropriate shoes. |
| grounds. | | | | Remember these safety tips for entering and exiting |
| Parent drivers must remain watchful. Children dart | | | | the school bus: |
| unexpectedly into traffic, often from between parked | | | | ? Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from |
| cars. And young pedestrians face a variety of | | | | traffic and the street. |
| dangers while walking to and from school. Here are a | | | | ? Stay away from the bus until it comes to a |
| few basic safety tips to follow: | | | | complete stop. |
| ? Mind all traffic signals and the crossing guard. | | | | ? When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten |
| ? Walk your bike through intersections. | | | | steps away from the bus. Also, remember that the |
| ? Walk with a buddy. | | | | bus driver can see you best when you are away |
| ? Wear reflective material. It makes you more visible | | | | from the bus. |
| to street traffic. | | | | ? Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus. |
| The US Dep't. of Transportation's National Highway | | | | ? Be aware of street traffic. Drivers are required to |
| Traffic Safety Administration suggests the following | | | | follow the rules of the road concerning school buses, |
| safe bicycling practices: | | | | but not all do. Protect yourself and watch out. |
| ? Always wear a helmet. | | | | You may think that riding in a car is completely safe. |
| ? Always ride on the right side of the road. Never ride | | | | But there are still rules you must follow to avoid |
| against traffic. | | | | accidents when riding in a car: |
| ? Ride single file. When passing other bikers or | | | | ? Don't forget that most traffic crashes occur close to |
| pedestrians, let them know your position by shouting | | | | home. |
| out something like, "On your left!" | | | | ? Safety belts are the best form of protection in the |
| ? Always check behind you before changing lanes. | | | | event of a crash. Everyone needs to be buckled up |
| ? Watch out for dangerous things in the roadway. | | | | properly: older kids in seat belts, younger kids in |
| Litter, potholes, gravel and storm drains all can cause | | | | booster seats and toddlers in child safety seats. |
| you to lose control. | | | | The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has a |
| ? Stop at all stop signs and at all traffic lights. Be extra | | | | "Back to School Safety Checklist" with tips on making |
| careful at crossroads. | | | | schools, child care facilities and playgrounds safer. |
| ? Always signal before making a left or right turn. | | | | Hidden hazards from the checklist include the following: |
| ? Maintain control of your bike. Don't swerve or make | | | | Playgrounds -- Check the surfaces around equipment. |
| sudden turns. | | | | There should be a 12-inch depth of wood chips, mulch, |
| ? Use caution when riding next to parked cars to | | | | sand or pea gravel, or there should be mats made of |
| avoid injury from someone suddenly opening a car | | | | safety-tested rubber or fiber material to prevent head |
| door in front of you. | | | | injury when a child falls. |
| ? Listen for cars approaching from the side or behind | | | | Drawstrings on jackets and sweatshirts -- Remove |
| you. | | | | them from around the neck. They can cause |
| ? Don't follow a car too closely. You may be in the | | | | strangulation by catching on things. Cut drawstrings at |
| blind spot, where the driver cannot see you, and you | | | | the waist or bottom of jackets to three inches. |
| may be unable to stop if the car comes to a sudden | | | | Window blind cords -- If the windows in your home, |
| halt. | | | | childcare centers or schools have blinds, cut the loop |
| ? Know your road signs and obey them. | | | | and attach separate tassels to prevent entanglement. |