After a summer of fun, the kids are back at school. But after all those safety precautions around the pool, or the lake, don’t let your guard down just because they seem to be safe in class.
It’s important to do your homework and to keep several safety tips in mind for the return to school, starting from the time they leave the house in the morning, to the time they arrive home in the afternoon.
With the help of the Red Cross, here are 8 detailed important tips to study up on.
Top 8 Back-to-School Safety Tips
- Be road safe
- If driving your child to school, be aware that roads will be much more congested with traffic now that it’s back-to-work and back-to-school for everyone. Drive safely, and watch for school children on the streets.
- All children should be wearing a seatbelt, or car seat for the younger set.
- Schoolbus safety
- If the school bus is your child’s ride to class, kids should stay clear of the curb before the bus pulls up, and only commence to board the vehicle once it’s come to a complete stop and the driver is ready for them.
- Automobile drivers, pay attention to those school bus stop signals.
- Biking to school rules
- If two wheels are more your child’s style, they must always wear a helmet while biking to school, and ride on the right side of the road (same direction as the car traffic). They should use the biking arm turn signals.
- Don’t sidestep these walking-to-school rules
- For your child to take a step in the right direction while walking to school, ensure they only cross the street at crosswalks or an intersection.
- Children should always try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing to ensure they see them, and try to stay in areas where school crossing guards are present.
- Kids should keep the smartphones in their pockets during their walk (or, obviously, during their bike ride), as they can create a distraction that could lead to disaster.
- Never talk to strangers!
- This is an oldie, but perhaps never more important than in today’s day and age. The younger set should never stop to talk to strangers—even (especially!) if they’re offering them a lift or some type of goodies.
What are the most common accidents on school property?
- Recess Rules
- It’s Game On once the recess bell sounds. Although it might seem like all bets are off when it comes to safety during this time, it’s crucial that your child engages in safe play—whether on schoolyard e
quipment or just at play in the yard—to avoid common accidents like slip and falls, sprains, breaks, or even concussions. - Make your child aware of signs of bullying, and tell them to report it to school staff, whether it involves themselves or others.
- It’s Game On once the recess bell sounds. Although it might seem like all bets are off when it comes to safety during this time, it’s crucial that your child engages in safe play—whether on schoolyard e
- Meal time troubles
- Ensure that you know your child’s food allergies, and that they’re equipped with an epi-pen (or other appropriate medication) if necessary. Sharing of foods at lunch is not uncommon, and it’s possible your child could ingest something they shouldn’t.
- School Pick-Up
- Re-read points (1) through (5), as all of them apply the same to the end of the day and school pick-up as they do for the trip to school in the morning.
Staying safe in Back to School season is a full-day affair — make sure your child has their thinking cap on from the moment they leave the house in the morning until they come strolling back in the front door at the end of the school day.
Trust the experts at Horowitz Injury Law for any unfortunate serious injuries suffered by your children at, or on the way to or from, school. Mr. Brian A. Horowitz has been handling cases like these for over 35 years. Contact us or call today for a free consultation: 416-925-4100.
