PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – School bells will be calling students to class soon, and the American Red Cross Cascades Region has steps everyone can take to help kids stay safe as they return to school.
As parents prepare for the start of a new school year, it’s a good time to think about emergencies, such as weather-related disasters, and create an emergency plan for their family. Know what the emergency plan is at your child’s school and develop a family emergency plan so everyone knows who to contact and where to go if something happens during the school day. Details are available at redcross.org/prepare.
“There’s a lot to think about starting a busy new school year, but don’t forget to include safety,” said Dawn Johnson, Communications Manager, Red Cross Cascades Region. “We urge parents and guardians to consider familiarizing their children with these measures to help keep them safe as they return to school.”
Cellphones A DIFFERENCE
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that distracted driving can be dangerous, even deadly. Teach your students the following:
- Do not text or talk on the phone while walking. If you must text, get out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk.
- Never cross the road using an electronic device.
- Do not walk with headphones in your ears.
- Drivers can also be distracted. Never use a phone while driving. Help keep children safe by eliminating all distractions.
GETTING THE BUS
- Students should go to their bus stop early and stay away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive. Young children should be supervised.
- Board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant instructs them to board. They must only board their own bus, never another.
- All students must stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.
GOING TO SCHOOL
- Cross the street at the corner, obeying traffic signals and staying in the crosswalk.
- Never step into the street or drive between parked cars.
- Use a route along which the school has posted crossing guards.
- Parents, walk with young children and those taking new routes or attending new schools for the first week to make sure they know how to get there safely. Arrange for children to walk to school with a friend or classmate.
GO BY CAR
- Everyone must always wear a seat belt.
- Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the shoulder belt fits properly (usually for children ages 8-12 and over 4’9”) and ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.
- If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents should mandate that they wear seat belts.
Bike movement There may be more young people on bikes as the school bells ring. They must:
- Wear a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing.
- Drive on the right side of the road, with traffic, in single file.
- Come to a complete stop before crossing the road; ride bikes down the street.
- Stay alert and avoid distracted riding.
SLOWING DOWN Drivers should slow down, especially in residential areas and school zones, and know what yellow and red bus signals mean. Flashing yellow lights indicate that the bus is about to stop, that drivers should slow down and be prepared to stop. Flashing red lights and an extended stop sign indicate that the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off.
Drivers must stop when they are behind a bus, when meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus has stopped. Motorists following or traveling near a school bus must also stop until the red lights stop flashing, the stop arm is retracted and all children have reached safety. This includes two and four lane highways. If physical barriers such as grass medians, guide rails, or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, drivers in opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
KEEP LITTLE ONES SAFE Keeping all students safe is everyone’s top concern, but there are special steps for parents of younger children and first-timers:
- Make sure the child knows their phone number, address, how to contact parents at work, how to contact another trusted adult, and how to call 911.
- Teach children not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.
Finally, download the free Red Cross First Aid app for instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies. You can find it by searching for “American Red Cross” in your app store or at redcross.org/apps. Learn and practice First Aid and CPR/AED skills by taking a course (redcross.org/takeaclass) so you can help save a life.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to disaster victims; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches life-saving skills; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to accomplish its mission. For more information, please visit newdcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.orgor visit us on Twitter at @Red Cross.
