With the new school year just around the corner, paramedics are reminding parents and motorists to act with extra care and caution to keep our children safe.
“This is an exciting time of year for our kids, and one where we all need to be extra vigilant when it comes to safety,” said Medavie Health Services West Public Affairs Director Troy Davies. “The added congestion on our streets that accompanies the end of summer vacations and the return to school, coupled with the fact that younger children have limited experience with traffic and are easily distracted, means motorists need to be extra cautious and patient while driving.”
Whether you are taking your children to school or just heading into work for the day, traffic will almost certainly be moving slower than usual right across our communities. Give yourself plenty of extra time to arrive, and, for motorists, please follow these important safety rules:
Be aware of school zone signage, and slow-down in school zones
Be ready to stop at all times. Children do not always notice oncoming traffic
Try to make eye contact with children waiting to cross the road
Be patient and allow children to complete their crossing before proceeding
Stop when directed to do so by a crossing guard
Medavie Health Services West also has the following safety tips for parents:
Plan your route in advance – choose the most direct way to school or the bus stop (with the fewest street crossings and intersections with crossing guards wherever possible).
Practice with your children – walk the route in the days before school, pointing out potential dangers and highlighting safe practices.
At intersections – teach them to Stop, Look and Listen for traffic; to walk instead of run, and to use the buddy system, if possible.
At the bus stop – make sure children understand the importance of standing far back from the bus when waiting and crossing the street so the driver can see them.
For emergencies – teach children their address, phone number and that of another trusted adult, and how to call 911 for help in an emergency.