Back-to-School Safety To Prevent Child Injury August 31, 2009

It’s that time of year again when our kids go back to school. That means traveling to and from school – safely. Florida’s roadways are some of the most dangerous in the nation, but they don’t have to be.

When using and sharing our roadways, whether it be by school bus, car, bicycle, foot, or whether it be in Orlando, Daytona Beach or Jacksonville, a few simple precautions will go a long way toward making this school year a safe one.

By Bus
Research shows that school bus travel is significantly safer than traveling by car or motorcycle. In fact, it is 16 times safer. Although school buses are quite a bit safer than autos, accidents do happen. More often than not, school bus related child injuries occur outside the bus, not while riding in the bus.

Parents and children should be more concerned with behaving safely when boarding or leaving the bus than with the possibility of a bus crash. At the time children are entering and exiting the bus, they can be hit by the bus itself or other vehicles.

Ideally parents should supervise their children as they send them off to school. If that is not possible for you, teach your kids just a few simple precautions:

• Look to the left, then to the right, and then to the left once more if you have to cross the street.
• Never stick your arms or head out of the window.
• Do not get off the bus before it stops moving completely
• When exiting the bus: take two large steps away from it. Then, if you have to walk in front of it, walk ahead at least three meters (10 giant steps). The driver must be able to see you.
• If you drop something that rolls near or under the bus, never attempt to retrieve it without the driver’s permission.

By Car
Rules for dropping off and picking up your children at school exist for safety and orderliness. While traffic congestion may be frustrating, do not get “creative” in the school zone. Respect speed limits, and drop-off and pick-up areas.

By Bicycle
Don’t ride your bike to school until you’re at least 9 years old and have enough experience to be able to look ahead and behind you without swerving.

• Note that when you look behind you while riding a bike, you will likely swerve to the direction in which you turned your head. Learn how to compensate for this tendency in places where there is no traffic before riding in traffic.
• Signal when you intend to turn by pointing to the direction you intend to turn.
• Always wear a helmet.

By Foot
If you’re walking to school, walk with a parent or friend.

• Never accept rides from strangers.
• Be aware of your surroundings. If you’re talking to a friend or parent on the way, look around occasionally to see what’s going on around you. At the least, it will keep you from walking into a pole, bumping your head and looking silly.
• Use sidewalks when available and cross with the light at crosswalks. Remember to look to the left, the right and then left again before crossing the street.
• Make sure drivers see you before you cross.