Back to School Safety Tips From A Gainesville Lawyer
As the new school year begins, parents are tasked with ensuring their children’s and teens’ safety, both on and off campus. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to keeping kids safe, it all begins with great safety preparation and regular habits. To help, our team of personal injury attorneys at Avera & Smith in Gainesville has compiled some excellent safety tips that can help keep your children safe at school and while traveling.
Safety Tips for Traveling To and From School
Walking, riding the bus, or driving themselves? However your child or teen gets to school, it’s important to teach them valuable safety tips and review them often.
Walking
If your child is walking to school, choose the safest possible route and practice it with them. Encourage them to avoid shortcuts, especially through yards. If possible, have them walk with a friend or neighbor. Underline the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street, too, and instruct them to only cross at intersections with marked crosswalks. Keep in mind that wearing bright colors or having a reflective backpack can help drivers to see your child, too.
Biking, Skateboarding, or Taking a Scooter
If you have children who bike, skateboard, or ride a scooter to school, ensure they have a helmet that fits properly. Remember that as your child grows their helmet size may also change, so check it regularly to make sure it always fits. Similar to those who walk to school, children riding various forms of personal transportation should understand and follow the rules of the road.
Riding the Bus
For those who take the bus to school, make sure everyone in your home is aware of the bus stop location as well as the bus number and driver’s name. As children walk to and from the bus stop, tell them to double-check their surroundings and understand the potential for traffic on the street. While at the stop, instruct them to stand away from the street. It’s a good idea to go over bus safety rules, as well, such as staying seated while the bus is in motion and keeping their belongings protected.
Parents Driving Their Children
If you drive your child to school, stay alert while driving. Not only can it help prevent an accident, but it also provides a good example for your children as they near driving age. When dropping your child off at school or picking them up, be sure to obey all school rules as they’re in place to protect your child as well as the other children at school.
Teens Driving to School
As your teen reaches driving age, they may want to have the freedom to drive themselves to school. Keep in mind that however mature your teen may be, teens are still inexperienced drivers and accidents are common among those their age. Practicing good driving habits with them is important. You can also drive the route with them before school starts, or before they start driving on their own, to coach how they drive and perhaps suggest an alternate route.
Safety Tips While at School
Staying safe at school is just as important as being safe while getting to and from school. Here are some common school safety tips from a Gainesville lawyer.
Clothing & Shoes
Some schools require students to wear uniforms while others do not. Before school starts, ensure your child or teen has the appropriate school clothes or uniforms, ensure shorts, skirts and pants are the proper length, and ensure tops are appropriate. Remember that additional clothing may be needed for physical exercise and sports, as well, and keep skin care and sun protection in mind.
The right shoes are just as important as clothes, so make sure your child has shoes that fit and that they are acceptable for a range of activities.
Backpacks
When packing a backpack, it’s important to make sure the weight is balanced and that the bag doesn’t become overloaded. Wear a backpack with shoulder straps that go over both shoulders to help distribute weight evenly and prevent back pain. Carrying a backpack with some reflectiveness on it can also help drivers and others to see your child during low light conditions going to and from school.
Participating in Sports & Other Activities
Playing on playgrounds and taking part in sports is fun and provides physical exercise, but injuries can happen. Keep the school up to date with emergency contact information so you can be reached if anything does happen on the field or at recess. Encourage your child or teen to tell you of any injuries they may receive, too, so you can evaluate at home even if it seems minor.
By taking a few simple precautions, you can help your child or teen stay safe during the school day. Review this safety advice from a Gainesville lawyer with your child or children before the school year starts, and encourage them to practice good safety habits both at school and while traveling to and from school. If your child has been injured due to someone else’s negligence and you need a lawyer, Gainesville’s best has you covered. Contact a personal injury attorney at Avera & Smith as soon as possible. We’ll listen to your situation and provide the best possible counsel for your case.