Review basic safety rules with your youngster
No matter how they get to and from school, children should keep safety uppermost in their minds.
Help your child by reviewing basic safety rules with them. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these precautions:
School Bus
- Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.
- Do not move around on the bus.
- Check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing.
- Make sure to always remain in clear view of the bus driver.
Car
- All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age- and size-appropriate car safety seat or booster seat.
- Your child should ride in a car safety seat with a harness as long as possible and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Your child is ready for a booster seat when she has reached the top weight or height allowed for her seat, her shoulders are above the top harness slots or her ears have reached the top of the seat.
- Your child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle's seat belt fits properly -- usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8-12 years old. This means the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, not the stomach; and the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her legs bent at the knees and feet hanging down. (Note: Tennessee law mandates that children ages 4-8 and less than 5 feet in height ride in a booster seat.)
- All children younger than 13 should ride in the rear seat of vehicles.
- Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. You may want to limit the number of teen passengers to prevent driver distraction. Do not allow your teen to drive while eating, drinking or talking on a cell phone.
Bike
- Always wear a bicycle helmet, no matter how short or long the ride.
- Ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic.
- Use appropriate hand signals.
- Respect traffic lights and stop signs.
- Wear bright color clothing to increase visibility.
- Know the "rules of the road." (American Academy of Pediatrics article)
Walking to School
- Make sure your child's walk to a school is a safe route with well trained adult crossing guards at every intersection.
- Be realistic about your child's pedestrian skills. Because small children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic, carefully consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision.
- Bright colored clothing will make your child more visible to drivers.
Following these simple rules will help ensure your child has a safe school year.
Published: September 29, 2005
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, Tennessee Department of Transportation
 Top of Page
|
You May Be Interested In...
See Information Related to This Topic
|
Health Care Services 
