Spare yourself the trauma with Brenna Benjamin.

Brenna Benjamin handles Trauma Program Injury Prevention and Outreach for Emergency Services at NorthBay Healthcare. Her blog focuses on preventive safety measures and true trauma encounters.

You can e-mail her at: BBenjamin@NorthBay.org

Brenna started writing for this blog September of 2017.

Head Back to School Safely

July 25, 2018
 

It's back-to-school preparation time and it's important for parents to make sure their children know how to get to and from school safely. Even for children who have walked to school before, it's worth reminders. Safety should be the first lesson of every school year.

Unfortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that from 2006 to 2015, there were more than 300 school-age children killed in school transportation-related crashes.

Fortunately, there are some simple tips to offer children so that they don't end up in the emergency department, or worse.

For those riding the bus:

  • Stay five steps away from the curb.
  • Always wait for the bus driver to tell you when to board.
  • Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
  • Exit the bus when it stops, look left-right-left, and take five steps away from the bus toward the curb.

For those who walk:

  • Children under 10 should be accompanied by an adult or someone who will make sure they walk safely.
  • Use the sidewalk whenever possible, and if there isn't a sidewalk, walk on the edge of the street facing traffic.
  • Focus when walking near traffic - this is no time for horseplay.
  • Use crosswalks whenever they are available to cross the street.
  • Look left-right-left before crossing any street.

For those who ride bikes:

  • Always wear a properly fitted helmet and securely fasten the chin strap.
  • Ride in the same direction as traffic and follow traffic signs and signals.
  • Stay in the bike lane whenever possible.
  • Use the sidewalk appropriately and keep an eye out for other pedestrians.
  • Never use electronics while riding - they are distracting.

For drivers

  • Research shows teens are the largest age group reported as distracted at the time of a fatal crash. Texting is clearly dangerous. Don't do it.
  • The car shouldn't move until everyone is buckled up.
  • Use appropriate car seats and booster seats for younger passengers.

 

Tags: trauma

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