Here's a short list of some important safety tips to keep in mind this school year, says injury prevention expert Beverly Hopps, coordinator of WNC Safe Kids. Make this year a healthy and safe time to learn, grow and have fun.
Backpack securityChoose a bag with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
Organize your child's backpack to use all the compartments. Pack heavy items around the middle of your back. The backpack should not exceed 10-20% of the child's body weight. Check the pack weekly with your child and remove excess items to keep them tidy.
Remember that your child always uses both shoulder straps. Carrying a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
Adjust the belt so that the bottom is around your child's waist.
Travel by school bus to and from school;Children must always get on and off the bus to get to the bus or school building safely.
Before approaching the stage, have your child remember to the bus stop.
Make sure your child walks where they can see the bus driver (meaning the driver can see them).
If someone is not stopping correctly, remind your students to look both ways before crossing the street to make sure there is no other traffic. If possible, practice first
If the school bus has a lap/shoulder belt, make sure your child uses it on the bus at all times. (If your child's school bus does not have shoulder belts, encourage the school system to purchase or rent a shoulder belt/bus.) Your child must not ride the bus.
If your child has a chronic illness that could cause a bus emergency, be sure to work with the school nurse or other school health professional to develop a bus emergency plan. If possible, do this on the first day of class.
In the car.All passengers must wear seat belts or use a car seat or carrier appropriate for their age and size.
The story continues
Have the child sit in the seat belt as much as possible in the car seat and then stand in the seat belt. Your child is ready for the seat when they reach the maximum weight or height allowed for the seat, when their shoulders are above the top strap openings, or when their ears reach the top of the seat.
A child must sit in a seat belt until the car's seat belt is fastened (usually a child is about 4 feet 9 inches tall and 8 to 12 years old). It means that the child is tall enough to sit on the back. Rear-facing car seat with knees bent, legs down, shoulder belt between chest and shoulders, not between neck and throat; The belly is low and completely on the thigh, not attached to the stomach.
All children under the age of 13 must ride in the back seat of the vehicle. If you want to drive more children than the back seat can accommodate (for example, when using a car), move the front passenger seat as far back as possible and place the child in the seat if the seat belt does not fit without it.
Remember that most accidents happen when inexperienced teenage drivers are going to and from school. Make sure your child wears a seat belt, limit the number of minor passengers, and remember not to distract the driver by eating, drinking, talking on a cell phone (even when using a loudspeaker or speakerphone), texting, or using other hardware devices. Consider using a parent-teen contract to facilitate early driving lessons. See an example of a Parent and Teen Leadership Agreement here.
by bikeBike to school before the first day of school to make sure your child can do it.
Always wear a bike helmet, no matter how short or long.
Pedal to the right, in the same direction as car traffic and go into the bike lane if available.
Use appropriate hand signals.
Obey traffic lights and stop signs.
Wear bright colored clothing to increase visibility. White or light-colored clothing and reflective clothing are essential after dark.
Learn about the rules of the road.
to walkChildren are generally ready to go to school between the ages of 9 and 11.
Trained adult crossing guards ensure that your child's journey to school is safe at every intersection.
Identify other children in the neighborhood whose child can walk to school. In high-traffic neighborhoods, consider organizing a "walking school bus" where an adult walks nearby children to school.
Be realistic about your child's walking abilities. Because young children are impulsive and have little awareness of traffic, carefully consider whether your child is ready to go to school without adult supervision. If the return trip requires crossing a busier road than your child can safely drive, have an adult, older friend or sibling drive them home.
If your children are young or new to school, check in with them or have another adult accompany them for the first week or until you're sure they know the way and can do it safely. If your child has to cross the street to school, try to cross the street safely with him before school starts.
Brightly colored clothing or visibility equipment such as a reflective vest or armband can make your child more visible to drivers.
This article was originally published in the Asheville Citizen Times; Great Beverly Hoops Safety Tips for Returning!