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