August 2007
BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY RULES

Most of those quarter million kids will be driven to school, either on a school bus or in the family car. Children must be taught to wait for their bus away from the road and not to approach the bus until it has stopped. They should also be taught to respect their bus driver and to be on good behavior. Throwing things at school buses, and tossing things from buses, are crimes that we take seriously.

If your child walks to school, make sure there are sidewalks and crossing guards along the way. There is safety in numbers, so have your child walk with siblings or other kids from the neighborhood. Remind them often not to approach friendly strangers in cars, never to accept rides, and not to take shortcuts. Being hit by a car is by far the greatest threat to any child on foot, and not just on school days. Make sure your kids stay on the sidewalk and only cross in a crosswalk.

Children riding bicycles to school need to wear helmets. Florida law requires it and it makes sense too. Each year about 800 bicyclists are killed nationwide and more than half a million are treated in hospital emergency rooms. Almost two-thirds of the deaths and one-third of the injuries involve head and face trauma. Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. Remind your young bicyclists to ride on the right side of the road and obey stop signs and traffic signals.

Drivers need to remember that Florida law prohibits passing, in either direction, a school bus that is stopped with its flashing lights activated. Drivers also need to slow down in school zones. It may add a few minutes to your commute, but driving slowly will give you time to react should a carefree youngster dart into your path. Anyone caught passing a stopped school bus or speeding in a school zone can expect to get a traffic ticket and the fines are extremely costly.

Be sure that your child knows his or her home phone number and home address, at least one parent's work number or cellular number and how to call 911 for emergencies. Teach them that 911 is no joke, but it's okay to dial any time anyone is hurt or in danger.

For working parents, after school care is a major concern. Young children who would go home to an empty house or apartment need after school care. Speak to school officials about their programs. If private aftercare is an option be selective and choose a well-structured and well-run program. Older children who are capable of being home alone need structure too, and that includes teenagers. Make sure they come straight home after school. Let them know that you care enough to check up on them every day with a phone call to the house, just to make sure they made it home okay. If possible, make arrangements with a trustworthy neighbor to be the “go-to-guy” in case your child encounters a problem or a minor emergency when home alone. Of course, in a real emergency your child should always dial 911.

By keeping safety in mind, we can work together to make the 2007-2008 school year a safe and successful one.