Get Ready for School With This Back to School Safety Checklist
A new school year means new opportunities for kids to learn, grow, make friends, and exercise their ever increasing independence. But with new opportunities come new responsibilities to take care of their own safety.
You can help the kids in your life stay safe this fall by practicing back to school safety with them. Here is a checklist of items to consider, courtesy of the National Safety Council and your experienced California personal injury lawyers:
- Practice “getting to school” safety. If your children walk or ride their bikes to school, follow their route with them at least once before school starts. Quiz them on how to safely navigate intersections, where to walk or ride, and other safety items. And make sure you model proper safety behaviors yourself, so kids have an example to follow.
- Practice bus stop safety. Even if your children don’t ride the bus every day, they may get on or off a school bus many times this year for field trips, sports, and other events. Go over bus stop safety with kids. Remind them to stand back and to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching it. Teach them only to cross the street in front of the bus when the bus driver signals that they may do so. Remind them to stay in their seats whenever the bus is moving.
- Choose a health-safe backpack. Children should never carry more than 10 to 20 percent of their body weight in a backpack. For a 60-pound child, this means carrying no more than 6 to 12 pounds. A backpack with ergonomic straps or one with wheels can make it safer for children to transport books, lunches, gym shoes, and other needed items every day.
The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV is dedicated to protecting those who have been harmed through no fault of their own. If you or your child has suffered injury or worse as a result of another person’s negligence, please call (888) 454-5569 to speak with a personal injury attorney in Long Beach.