With back-to-school season upon us, the National Safety Council is urging parents to ask themselves 5 questions that impact children’s and teen’s safety as they head into a new school year.
5 Questions
- How is my child getting to school?
- Does my child have the right backpack?
- Is the playground equipment safe?
- Are coaches trained to spot the signs of a concussion?
- Does my child get enough sleep?
Safety Recommendations
- Ride the bus. Children are 70 times more likely to get to school safely by taking the bus rather than riding in a car.
- Avoid teen carpools. If teens drive to school, they should do so alone, without friends or siblings.
- Walk attentively in groups. Avoid texting while walking, never walk with headphones in and use crosswalks.
- Buy the right backpack. A backpack should not weigh more than 5 to 10% of a child’s weight and fit properly throughout the torso area.
- Check the playground. Look for hazards such as cracks, rust, splits in wood, sharp edges, tripping hazards, missing guardrails and loose hardware.
- Advocate for concussion education. Check with school leadership to ensure coaches are educated about the signs and symptoms of a concussion.
- Plan around sleep schedules. School-aged children need 9-11 hours of sleep, while teens need 8-10 hours. Plan activities that do not impact sleep schedules.
Check out the full article which includes specific stats and additional safety information. Let’s keep our kids safe this school year!
