Safety Tips To Remember As Maine Kids Start The New School Year

Thousands of Maine kids will head back to school in the coming weeks. After a summer of playing without a care, the Red Cross wants to remind students and their families of some important safety tips, as we all prepare for the new academic year.

Jennifer Costa, media contact for the Northern New England region of the American Red Cross, says for the youngest, first-time students, the most important things they need to know when heading to school are the very basics.

Know the basic contact information: 

Their full name, phone number, address, and their parent's phone numbers are some of the basic things first-time students should know before the school year begins.  It would also be helpful if the tiny ones knew how to get ahold of another trusted adult, like a grandparent or a neighbor, and how to dial 911.

Stranger Danger:

The other concept Costa says parents should go over with young students is to not talk to strangers, or accept rides from strangers.

Costa says other information will vary, depending on the mode of transportation your kids rely on.

For instance, if your child is going to be a walker this school year, make sure they know proper walking etiquette. It might seem second nature to you as an adult, but kids tend to occupy space more freely than we do. So you want them to know how to navigate streets and crosswalks safely.

Where & When To Walk:

Remind kids to walk on the sidewalk, and if there's no sidewalk available, to walk facing traffic.

Explain to them the importance of taking time to stop and look left, right, and left again to see if cars are coming.

Make sure they know to cross the street at the corner, to stay in the crosswalk and  to obey traffic signals.

Warn kids not to run out into the street or cross between parked cars.

If your youngster plans to ride the bus, Cross says there are still things to be mindful of.

What To Do When Riding The Bus: 

"Get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive.

Board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant has instructed them to get on. And only board their bus, never an alternate one.

Stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus."

For drivers out there, it's good to be aware of the school buses you're sharing the roads with and to never pass a bus that has its stop sign out and flashing lights on.

Cross says reminders about seatbelts and bike helmets and not using cell phones while driving are also good to review with students before the start of school.

Good luck out there to everyone heading back to school. We hope this year is an awesome one for you all, both big and small.