The school year is starting, bringing with it many changes and new experiences for young children. Emergency care doctors like Dr. Josyann Abisaab know this is a vital time to go over safety rules regarding transportation and play.
The National Safety Council recently released a back-to-school safety checklist for parents and family members:
- “Review your family’s walking safety rules: walk on the sidewalk, if one is available. When on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic. Before you cross the street, stop and look all ways to see if cars are coming. Never dart out in front of a parked car.
- Practice walking to school with your child.
- When your child is riding a bike, make sure he or she always wears a helmet.
- Teach your children the rules of the road they need to know to ride their bicycles.
- Go to the bus stop with your child to teach them the proper way to get on and off the bus.
- Make sure your children stand six feet away from the curb.
- If you and your child need to cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the side of the road until you are at least 12 feet ahead of the bus. You always should be able to see the bus driver, and the bus driver always should be able to see you.”
