JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
As summer vacations end and parents rush to get school
supplies to start their children off on the right foot this coming school year,
let’s not forgot the most important tool: safety.
Parents need to go over basic safety rules with their
children every year, whether it will be the first time the children will be allowed
to walk home or not.
The following are some things parents need to know and
consider so their kids may get to school and home safely.
Parents should take the time to educate their children about
safety, regardless of their age.
Although some kids mature faster than others, there is no
right age for children to start walking or riding their bicycles to school
alone or with a friend.
Let your children know drivers and cars are their No. 1
threat on the street. When crossing the street, they should stop on the
crosswalk, look to the left, then to the right, and then to the left again
before proceeding across the street.
If they ride bicycles, children should never ride across a
busy intersection. Let them know it is best to get off the bicycle and walk their
bikes next to them as they cross the street. Remember, not all intersections
have traffic lights and many times, there are no crossing guards at these
intersections.
As parents, make your children understand the importance of
playing it safe and using common sense. A safe route needs to be drawn out, but
don’t forget that an alternate route is just as important. Talk with your
children and develop a simple route. One thing to consider is children will be
safer with fewer street crossings and intersections.
In addition, make sure they wear the proper bicycle headgear
and obey all traffic laws.
If your children ride the school bus, some basic rules to
follow are:
• Children must wait for the school bus to come to a
complete stop before approaching it from the curb. Never let your children run
toward the bus. The bus driver may not see them and this could lead to a
tragedy.
• Tell your children they are to remain seated at all times
and keep their hands and heads inside the bus while it is in motion.
• Today’s busses come equipped with seatbelts. Make sure
your kids use them, just like they do when they ride in the family car.
• When the bus comes to a stop, your children should exit
the bus in an orderly manner and look for oncoming traffic.
Children should also be reminded to be active pedestrians
and bike riders by not texting and being preoccupied with modern mobile
devices.
And an additional safety measure: Children should know their
home telephone number, their address and, if possible, a parent’s work
telephone number. It’s also good for children to know the number of a trusted
adult who has been designated for notification in case of an emergency.
With back-to-school plans, there is no reason why your
children can’t enjoy another school year – safely. Remember: school and safety
goes hand-in-hand.