IT’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIME
As the summer winds down, parents and their kids look forward to the beginning of a new school year. From meet-the-teacher opportunities to back-to-school shopping, there is a lot to do before that first day of school. Take a few minutes to review a few safety tips and make this upcoming school year one to remember.
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. 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. Always stop, at least 10 feet away, when a school bus has its lights flashing. Never pass a stopped school bus, even on four-lane roadways, unless there are physical barriers separating oncoming traffic. Make sure all children have reached a safe place before proceeding. Violations to the School Bus Stopping Law include a 60-day license suspension and five points on your driver’s license.
Sharing back-to-school pictures safely
As parents, we love to document events in our childrens’ lives. A photo of your child on their first day of school is de rigueur for most families. Parents often have their child hold a sign documenting 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. The National Safety Council has more school safety recommendations for parents and students.
Delco Alarm Systems wish’s everyone a safe and enjoyable start to the new school year.