137 Hospital Drive Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Phone: 850-833-7474 www.safedriveschools.org

We are www.safedriveschools.org

BRO033_081909

BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY REMINDERS

FOR PARENTS & GUARDIANS

OTHER SAFETY & HEALTH TIPS BULLYING: Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students of all races and classes. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don't always see it, and because kids don’t usually admit that they are being abused at school, they may not understand how extreme bullying can get. Parents must make it clear to kids how essential it is to share this information. When parents discover their child is the victim of a bully: (1) Visit the school in person - Work with school officials on the solutions,; (2) Request a meeting with parents - Ask to meet at the school with the bully’s parents; (3) Get police involved - If the bullying continues, go to the police, explain the steps that you have taken, and ask for advice.

LATCHKEY KIDS: Home alone kids are always a safety concern for parents. There are 2 important rules that parents need to teach their latchkey kids: (1) Keep entry doors shut and locked at all times; and (2) Set check in time(s) for a call to a parent or guardian when the child(ren) have arrived home. It is also important to teach them about general home safety (fire, falls, cuts, etc.) and how to call for emergency assistance.

HOMEWORK, EATING, EXERCISE, HYGIENE & SLEEP HABITS: Make sure that you help your child establish good daily habits about completing homework assignments, eating healthy, getting exercise, tending to personal hygiene, and getting plenty of sleep. These will help assure your child’s safety, health, and general well-being, at school, at home, and at play! Resources for this and other school and child passenger safety information can be found on the following websites: • American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org • CBS News: “Back to School Safety Tips” August 26,

2002: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/23/earlyshow/living/parenting/main519691.shtml

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.dot.gov, click on Traffic Safety.

By Foot: Many children use roadways to make their way to and from school. Parents and guardians must review road safety rules with their children and the importance of not

accepting rides or any invitations from strangers. It is best to walk with a buddy and keep focused on getting straight home. To keep safe on roads, children pedestrians must: 1. Find a safe and direct route to school

with the help of their parents. Hazards should be identified (train tracks, busy intersections, etc.) and a designated route with safety rules should be established.

2. Stay on sidewalks whenever possible. If there is no sidewalk, use the left side of the road facing traffic.

3. Cross streets only at corners and learn to look to the left, the right and then left again before proceeding, even at intersections with pedestrian walk signs. Vehicles have been known to drive through red lights, so children must be made aware of that danger and learn to wait until traffic comes to a stop. Special attention must also be given to the danger of vehicles turning on red lights.

4. Respect and obey the directions of crossing guards.

With education and awareness, all children should be able to get to school and home again, safely. Take the time to share these valuable rules and tips with your children.

BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS The Bridgeway Center, Inc. Driving Schools reminds parents and guardians to instil safety rules in their children in order to have them travel to and from school safely, and to make their day at school safer. Take the time to talk with your child or children about safe practices and rules at school, and educate them about safe conduct when using and sharing road-ways, whether it be by school bus, car, bicycle or by foot.

MAKING THE FIRST DAYS EASIER: Some chil-dren may be a little uneasy about the first days at school. Ask them if there are specific concerns and assure them that they are not the only students who feel a little uneasy about the first days back to school. Point out the positive aspects.

BACKPACK SAFETY:

1. Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.

2. Pack lightly. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student's body weight.

3. Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a back-pack over one shoulder can strain muscles.

4. Consider a rolling backpack. This type of back-pack may be a good choice for students who must carry a heavy load.

TRAVELING TO AND FROM SCHOOL:

By School Bus

Research shows that school bus travel is one of the safest methods of transportation. It is 16 times safer than travelling in a family car per passenger/mile of travel. Although school buses have an excellent safety record, mishaps can happen. These mishaps can include instances where children are injured while riding on the bus. It is more common however, for injuries to be sustained once outside the bus, in-cluding being hit by their own school bus or other vehicles.

Parents and guardians should know that they are responsible for their children until they step on to the

bus and immediately after they exit the bus. An adult should always be there to send off young passengers and to greet them, on the same side of the street where children exit the bus.

Outside of the school bus, chil-dren must:

1. Arrive at the designated bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled pick

up time. Do not wander off or get into mischief. If you miss the bus, go back home or if you are at school, report to a teacher. Never accept a ride from a stranger.

2. Be seen in the dark on the way to and from the bus. Use retro-reflective tape or other methods to make sure you are clearly visible to motorists.

3. Wait for the school bus well away from the roadway and stay back until the bus has come to a full stop and the door opens.

4. Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus. When getting off the bus: take two large steps away from bus. If you must walk in front of the bus, walk ahead at least 10 giant steps). The driver must be able to see you and will give a signal when it is safe to cross. Cross in a single file.

5. Never pick up anything off the ground, outside of the bus. Tell the driver or an adult.

6. Go straight home with no detours. You should know of a few places on the way home, which you can use in the event of an emergency.

Inside the school bus, children must:

1. Never run, push, shout, throw things or fight in or around the bus. Never stick anything out of the window, including arms or heads.

2. Take your seats promptly and sit facing forward. Place books and backpacks under the seat. Feet, books, or backpacks sticking out in the aisle can trip someone. Do not stand up until the bus has come to a full stop at the final destination.

3. Talk quietly so that the driver can concentrate on driving.

4. Save food for snack time at school or until you get home. There is a danger of choking and the driver may not be able to immediately help you in an emergency.

By Car:

Did you know that when parents travel without their safety belts, child restraint use drops by 36%? Set the example and obey the law. It is important that everyone buckle up, every trip, every time, no mat-ter how short the ride!

In addition to obeying the traffic laws for a safe trip to and from school, parents and guardians must respect their child’s school safety measures for dropping off and picking up their children at school. Every effort must be made to avoid collision and injury by refraining to create hazardous situations of traffic congestion and unsafe driving practices within the school zone.

By Bicycle:

To ride a bicycle to and from school, children must be mature enough (minimum 9 - 12 years old), and must have enough experience. The rider should be able to scan ahead and check behind without swerving.

To ensure safe cycling, young cyclists must:

1. Wear a properly-fitted helmet, and have clothes that are suited for cycling.

2. Have their bikes fitted properly and in good work-ing order. The bike should have a regular main-tenance check-up and should have reflectors, a light, and a bell. It is also a good idea to have a safety flag.

3. Know and obey all traffic rules, signs and sig-nals. They must signal turns and stops. They must ride in a straight line in the same direction as traffic and stop at every stop sign.

4. Be predictable to other road users by riding with the traffic usually on the right hand side of the roadway.

5. Never ride in the dark. If an older child must ride in the dark, make sure that reflective clothing and night-accessories (e.g. reflectors and lights) are used.