BACK-TO-SCHOOL
It’s “the most wonderful time of the year,” for parents as their kids return to the classroom. After several months of summer break, parents and their school-age children are ready for the start of a new school year. Before you send them off, take a few minutes to review some safety tips to help make the new school year one to remember.
Back-to-school pictures
We all love to get that first day of school photo as little Jasmine or Johnny pose in their back-to-school outfits and new backpacks. To document the day, parents will often have their child hold a sign noting the day, the child’s grade level, school or other information. Many of us share these precious photos with family and friends on social media. Unfortunately, there are criminals who mine online sites to gain personal information. Seemingly innocent information you post in a picture can be used in ways you might never imagine. Names, addresses, even passwords can be gleaned from these photos. Never include personal information, even the name of the child’s school, in these photos. Talk to your older children and other family members to make sure they are not sharing identifying information online.
Younger Children
Your little one should know her address and parents’ or guardian’s names and phone numbers. Make sure your child and school officials know the after-school plan. Will your child go to an after-school program or will he be picked up by a babysitter? The names and phone numbers of any adult permitted to pick up your child should be given to school officials.
Getting to and from school
If your child takes the bus, make sure they know to board only when the bus has come to a complete stop. They should know to look both ways before crossing the street, even when the bus is stopped and its red lights are flashing. Practice this with younger children before school starts. If you carpool with other parents, make sure children under the age of 13 ride in the back seat. Seatbelts must always be used as well as booster seats when age-appropriate. If your child is old enough to walk to school, make sure they know the safest route and only cross streets protected by a crossing guard. Backpacks and clothing should be brightly-colored so as to be visible to motorists. In addition, children who ride a bike to school must also know the rules of the road and always wear a helmet.
Motorists
Even those of us without school-age children need to be aware that school is back in session. Pennsylvania, as with most states, have strict rules when it comes to driving near school zones and buses. With school buses dropping off and picking up students, there is often a lot more congestion on the roadways. Perhaps leave for work a few minutes earlier to compensate for bus traffic and slower school zone speed limits. Motorists should remember, never pass a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm activated. If there is no physical barrier between you and the stopping bus, you must stop. That goes for traffic in both directions. If a school bus is stopped at an intersection, traffic in all directions must stop. Passing a school bus with red lights flashing and stop arm activated is dangerous and carries hefty fines – a 60-day driver’s license suspension, five points on your driving record and a $250 fine.
The American Red Cross has more school safety recommendations for both parents and students. Delco Alarm Systems wishing everyone a safe and productive school year.