Hold Youngsters Protected as They Head Again to College

It’s virtually time for teenagers to go again to their school rooms and the American Red Cross gives methods to assist maintain your college students protected as they return to highschool for the upcoming yr.

If your scholar is youthful or going to highschool for the primary time, train them:

• Their telephone quantity, handle, how one can get in contact with their dad and mom at work, how one can get in contact with one other trusted grownup and how one can dial 911.
• Not to speak to strangers or settle for rides from somebody they don’t know.

 

If your baby walks to highschool, train them to:

• Walk on the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is accessible, stroll going through visitors.
• Stop and look left, then proper and left once more to see if automobiles are coming.
• Cross the road on the nook, obey visitors alerts and keep within the crosswalk.
• Never run out into the road or cross between parked automobiles.

 

If your scholar takes the bus to highschool, train them to:

• Get to their bus cease early and stand away from the curb whereas ready for the bus to reach.
• Board the bus solely after it has come to an entire cease and the driving force or attendant has instructed them to get on. And solely board their bus, by no means an alternate one.
• Stay in clear view of the bus driver and by no means stroll behind the bus.

 

If your scholar rides their bike to highschool, train them to:

• Always put on a helmet.
• Ride on the correct in the identical path because the visitors goes.

 

If you drive your baby to highschool, be certain that to:

• Always use seat belts. Younger youngsters ought to use automotive seats or booster seats till the lap-shoulder belt matches correctly (sometimes for kids ages 8-12 and over 4’9”), and experience within the again seat till they’re at the very least 13 years outdated.

 

If you’ve gotten an adolescent driving to highschool, be certain that they:

• Use seat belts.
• Don’t use their cellphone to textual content or make calls and keep away from consuming or ingesting whereas driving.

 

If you might be contemplating getting your scholar a cellphone:

• Download the free Red Cross First Aid and Emergency apps to provide them entry to first help ideas for frequent emergencies and full climate alerts. Find the apps in smartphone app shops by trying to find the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

 

DRIVERS, SLOW DOWN! Drivers ought to decelerate as youngsters head again to highschool. Know that yellow flashing lights point out a college bus is on the point of cease ─ motorists ought to decelerate and be ready to cease. Red flashing lights and an prolonged cease signal point out the bus is stopped and kids are getting on or off.

Motorists should cease when they’re behind a bus, assembly the bus or approaching an intersection the place a bus is stopped. Motorists following or touring alongside a college bus should additionally cease till the pink lights have stopped flashing, the cease arm is withdrawn, and all youngsters have reached security. This consists of two and four-lane highways. If bodily obstacles resembling grassy medians, information rails or concrete median obstacles separate oncoming visitors from the bus, motorists within the opposing lanes could proceed with out stopping. Do not proceed till all the kids have reached a spot of security.