Mornings during the school year are crazy in most households: sleeping through alarms, packing lunches, remembering homework, rushing to get to work and school on time.
A topic that is rarely discussed is safety during trips to school. In 2007, research showed that, during one school year, 815 student deaths and more than 150,000 injuries occurred during normal school travel hours. These deaths and injuries occur during incidents involving passenger vehicles driven by adults and teens, walking, bicycling, and entering and exiting school buses.
What are some ways we can help our children be safe on their trips to school? Before turning on the car, walk around it to be sure no children are around. About 2,500 children (ages 1 to 14) go to the emergency room every year due to injuries from cars backing up around them. When driving, take extra precautions in residential areas and in school zones during school commute times. Remember—children move in unpredictable ways. When parked, your car and trunk should always be locked so children playing around the area do not become trapped in the vehicle.
Adults should accompany children who walk to school until at least 10 years old, sometimes longer. Consider organizing a neighborhood group in which one adult walks with the children each day. Review with your children the importance of looking left, right, then left again before crossing the street and the importance of always walking across a street, never running. Children should also be encouraged to cross a street at a corner with a crossing guard or, if one is not available, at a crosswalk or traffic signal. They should try to follow routes to school with sidewalks or designated walking areas so they are not in the street.
For children riding a bus, discuss looking both ways before crossing the street to be sure traffic has stopped for the school bus. Children should also walk around the school bus where they are able to see the bus driver. It is recommended that parents show their children a safe place to stand while waiting for the school bus, including where to stand if a car around them starts to move and to wait to approach the school bus until after it stops.
If children bike to school, always have them wear a proper fitting helmet, ride on the side of the road where they will be going the same direction as traffic, be aware of and obey traffic laws, and wear bright-colored clothing.
These are just a few of the many ways to help protect your children on their way to and from school. For both parents and children, be alert to your surroundings and take your time while commuting.
Dr. Brittany Ann Massare is a pediatrician with Penn State Hershey Medical Group.
