Back To School Safety

All we had to do was blink, and summer was over. It seems as if summer break is getting shorter and shorter every year. In some ways, this is a good thing. It means we have less time to worry about keeping our kids entertained day in and day out. However, the back-to-school season comes with its own unique set of stresses, worries, and concerns. It is ahectic time of year. A time of wild, rushed mornings, breakfasts on-the-go, and grumpy, sleepy, early morning faces. The back-to-school rush is also defined by heavy traffic around the school. Today, we are going to discuss back-to-school safety.

Navigating Congestion

Congestion will be at its heaviest right around theschool. Packs of huge yellow school buses will be chugging their way along the road waiting to dropoff a load of kids. Moms and dads, already late for work will be wheeling too fast into designated drop-off areas. Children from the surrounding neighborhoods will be assembling by foot. And young bicyclists willbe pedaling their way across crosswalks. It is important that everyone slow down, and commit to sharing the road.

Each school has its own procedures for picking up and dropping kids off, make sure to follow these procedures closely. Always drive slowly, with caution. Remember, young pedestrians are small and can often be hard to see. Take your time and look both ways when crossing an intersection. Spend some time speaking with your kids about the dangers of traffic. Make sure they know the importance of looking both ways when crossing the street. If your child rides a bike to school, ensure that she wears a helmet. The majority of major bicycle injuries occur because a child was not wearing a safety helmet. If everyone follows these safety precautions,everyone will get to school, and back home, safely.