Back-to-School Safety Tips

Each year, 2.2 million children ages 14 and younger are injured in school-related accidents, according the National Safe Kids Campaign (Safe Kids USA). 

Parents can help prevent them by preparing students and staying on the lookout for potential hazards. Here's a list of safety tips from Safe Kids, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Maryland Safe Routes Program:

Walking to School

• Plan a route ahead of time, then do a practice walk. Instruct children to stay away from vacant lots, fields, parks or other places with few people around.
• Teach children to obey all traffic signals, signs, officers and crossing guards.
• Don't let your child walk alone. Have a brother or sister, friend, neighbor or other family member accompany.
• Teach children never to talk with or accept a ride from strangers. Remind them a "stranger" can be someone you know but not well, or someone you know but don't trust.
• Arrive at the bus stop early. Remind children to stay out of the street until the bus stops completely and to watch out for cars. Tell your child not to bend down in front of the bus to tie shoes or pick up objects (as the driver may not see them before starting to move).

Driving to School

• Drop off (and pick up) children as close to the school as possible. When dropping off, don’t drive away until you see they are inside the schoolyard or building.
• Make sure children wear helmets if they ride bikes to school. (In Maryland, helmets are required by law for everyone under age 16, on a bike, motor scooter or skates).
• Ensure your children know their home phone number and address.

Tips for Adults

• Use sidewalks or bike paths that connect homes with schools.
• Make sure pathways are accessible for all students.
• Work with law enforcement and local officials to enforce school zone safety and identify changes to improve walking and bicycling conditions around schools.

Once at School

• Evaluate the school's playground equipment, looking for hazards like rusted or broken equipment or unprotected surfaces. The ground area beneath should be covered with wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, mats or fiber material to prevent head injury from falls. Report any hazards to the school. Make sure that the school anchors soccer goals into the ground so they won’t tip over and possibly crush a child.
• Teach children proper playground etiquette: No pushing, shoving, or crowding (or bullying). Give your child some bully-coping strategies (in advance). Teach children not give in to a bully’s demands, but instead to walk away or tell the bully to stop; or if that doesn't work, talk to the teacher.