Red Cross offers back-to-school safety tips for students

[August 20, 2012]  It's once again that time of year in central Illinois when local schools open their doors to a new group of students. The American Red Cross wants children of all ages to be safe as they start out a new school year and offers the following safety tips for students and parents alike:

Bus safety

If children ride a bus to school, they should plan to get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive.

Other safety steps for students:

• Board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver has instructed you to get on.

• Only board your bus and never an alternate one.

• Always stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.

• Cross the street at the corner, obeying traffic signals and staying in the crosswalk.

• Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Motorists should know what the yellow and red bus signals mean:

• Yellow flashing lights -- The bus is getting ready to stop, and motorists should slow down and be prepared to stop.

• Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign -- The bus is stopped and children are getting on or off. Drivers in both directions must stop their vehicles and wait until the lights go off, the stop sign is back in place and the bus is moving before they can start driving again.

Driving

• If children ride in a car to get to school, they should always wear a seat belt. Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4-foot-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 use seat belts. Drivers should not use their cellphone to text or make calls, and should avoid eating or drinking while driving. All drivers should be aware that children are out walking or biking to school. Drivers should slow down, especially in residential areas and school zones.

Biking and walking

• Students who ride their bike to school should always wear a helmet, obey all traffic signs and ride on the right in the same direction as traffic.

• Those who walk to school should only cross the street at an intersection and should use a route along which the school has placed crossing guards. Parents should walk young children and children taking new routes or attending new schools, at least for the first week, to ensure they know how to get there safely. Thereafter, arrange for the kids to walk to school with a friend or classmate.

Take a Red Cross first-aid and CPR/AED course so you'll have the knowledge and skills to act if an injury or emergency happens. You can also download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you'll always have first aid information at your fingertips. The app is available for both iPhone and Android devices.

To learn more preparedness and safety tips, visit il-redcross.org. Additionally, schools that are interested in a free Red Cross disaster education presentation for their students and teachers should contact [e-mail] or visit il-redcross.org to learn more.

[Text from file received from the American Red Cross]