When our children head back to school, we as parents worry about their safety. At Christensen & Hymas, we often help our clients overcome the devastating effects accidents and injuries can have on children. How do we allow them to explore their world, become independent individuals, and have fun with friends while protecting them from injury and harm? Fortunately, there are several ways to do just that. In this article, we outline some helpful hints on teaching kids about school safety.
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Walking to School
Children, due to their smaller size and lack of knowledge and experience with traffic, face higher risk of injury or even death as pedestrians. Keep them safe as they walk to school by:
- Teaching them to “look both ways” before crossing the street
- Making sure that as they walk, they keep their focus on the sidewalk ahead of them and are aware of the cars in the road.
- Teaching them to obey directions given at crosswalks and other traffic laws, and to exercise caution as they travel.
Parents, teachers, and law enforcement can come together to protect the health and safety of children as they travel to school. As a parent, you can volunteer to educate your child’s class on pedestrian safety or even serve as a school crossing guard. Safe Routes to School has great resources on encouraging school safety on the street and in the crosswalks!
School Safety on the Playground
In the US, emergency rooms treat an estimated 200,000 children under the age of 14 for playground-related injuries each year. You can help prevent injuries during recess by:
- Checking that the playground, and especially its fall surfaces, are well-maintained. Fall surfaces should consist of soft materials such as wood chips or sand.
- Teaching your children to obey adults’ instructions and cautions, as well as posted warnings.
No matter how cautious you are, accidents can happen. If your child is hurt as a result of someone else’s negligence, please contact us. We will meet with you and do our best to ensure your family receives the financial support you need and deserve.