Mechanicsburg, Pa. – Summer vacation is coming to an end and children will soon be heading back to school. According to SafeKids Worldwide, every day, 44 children are hit by a car in the United States, about 16,000 a year. Students, parents, and motorists all play an important role in ensuring children are safe while walking to school or while riding the bus. Follow these back to school safety tips from the American Trauma Society, Pennsylvania Division (ATSPA).
Walking to school safety tips:
• Ensure children are paying complete attention to where they are walking. This includes putting down devices and removing headphones from ears.
• Inform children that they should cross at the corner of the street and they should look left, right, left before crossing.
• Teach children to always walk on the sidewalk when available. If there isn’t a sidewalk, ensure they know to walk facing traffic.
School bus safety tips:
• Arrive to the bus stop five minutes early to avoid running across the street to catch a bus. Never run after the school bus after it has left.
• Walk at least ten feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the driver can see you.
• When the school bus is moving, always stay in your seat.
• Talk quietly so that you do not distract the driver.
For more information on back to school safety, contact the ATSPA at 717-766-1616.
The American Trauma Society, PA Division (ATSPA) is a non-profit trauma prevention education organization dedicated to reducing suffering, disability and death due to trauma. The ATSPA strives to help all Pennsylvanians survive and lead healthier lives through its trauma prevention education programs. For information, call 717-766-1616 and visit www.atspa.org.
