The end of summer means that it's time for children to head back to school. Whether they travel on foot, by bicycle, by bus or by car, it's important to teach your child how to get to school safely. Below are some actions you and your child can take to prevent injuries when travelling to and from school.
Walking to SchoolWalking to school is a great way to ensure children keep active, but there are important steps to take to make sure your child stays safe.
Teach your child to keep a safe distance from cars - walk on the sidewalk, or if there is none, stay as far on the shoulder of the road as possible.
Make sure your child knows to walk in the direction facing the traffic, so he/she can see the cars approaching and drivers can see him/her.
Driveways need special attention as drivers may not see children walking by. Teach your child that when the white lights on the back of a car or truck are lit up, it means that the car is moving backwards, and he/she should keep clear.
Crossing the road alone is a big step for children; only children aged nine or older should be allowed to cross busy intersections alone.
Demonstrate how to look both ways before crossing: show your child to turn his/her head left, right and then left again to look for traffic before stepping out onto the road. Remind your child that a car can't stop as fast he/she can; if your child sees a car coming, tell him/her not to cross until the car has stopped or has passed.
Tell your child to cross at an intersection with a traffic light whenever possible, and make sure he/she knows how to use the crosswalk signal to let drivers know that he/she wants to cross.
Biking to School Before your child bikes to school, make sure his/her bicycle has working brakes, a seat secured at the right height and is equipped with a bell, light and a reflector.
Make sure your child always wears a bike helmet that is level on his/her head, not tilted back or sideways, and the strap should is snug to protect his/her head in case of a fall. Hats should not be worn under a helmet.
A properly fitting helmet rests two finger-widths from the eyebrow, has v-shape straps around both ears, and allows space for one finger to fit between chin and strap.
Teach your child to obey the rules of the road. Like people who drive cars, cyclists must ride in the same direction as the road traffic, ride single-file, stop at red lights and stop signs and yield to pedestrians.
Always walk bikes across intersections or railway crossings.
Hand signals will tell other traffic if your child is planning to turn or stop and will help him/her understand what cars and other cyclists will be doing.
Before school starts, map out the safest route to school with the least traffic. Children under age 10 should not ride their bikes on the road. Whenever you can, use bike lanes or paths, and make sure your child follows the buddy system: always ride with at least one friend and tell someone - yourself or another adult - where they are going and what route they will use.
Riding the School BusThere are important actions your child must take to avoid injury when riding the school bus.
When the school bus is approaching the bus stop, your child must take five steps back from the road.
It is important for you to remind your child to stay away from the three danger zones - the front, sides and back of the bus - by staying at least three metres (10 feet) away from the school bus.
Once inside the school bus, your child should take a seat as quickly as possible, put his/her belongings under the seat, and stay calm.
Driving to School The back seat is the safest place for your child to be.
Your child should ride in a booster seat until they are 36 kg (80 pounds), at about eight years old. At this point, he/she has grown enough to properly use a seatbelt.
Explain how and why he/she must wear her seatbelt. The strap that runs across the lap should sit over your child's hips. The shoulder strap should go over the shoulder and chest, never under his/her arm which could cause a broken rib, and never behind the back which could hurt his/her spine in the event of a collision.
For more information on injury prevention, please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's website at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca. For information on car seats and school bus safety, visit Transport Canada's website at http://www.tc.gc.ca.
