With school starting, there are ways to help keep children safe.
As part of the Government of Canada's Back to School Safety and Planning for Emergencies initiative, they offer up numerous tips to help keep children safe as they head back to school.
They suggest reviewing the family's emergency plan and check emergency kit supplies with the children of the household, and if creating an emergency kit, involve the children in that process as well.
While doing that, talk with the children about what to do and where they will all meet, especially if the family is not together, if an emergency takes place.
For when school starts and children are in the classroom, make sure you are aware of the school's emergency procedures, including their plan for emergencies, and any alternate locations the school has should an emergency happen.
Also, check to see if the school has current emergency contact information for the child, which includes work, mobile, and home phone numbers.
Once school officially begins, watch for children who are walking, cycling, and coming off school buses.
Not only are children small, but they are also easily distracted, which can create dangerous situations on roads.
While behind the wheel, be vigilant and stay alert, especially in school zones, because a small child could step out from between parked cars or off a sidewalk with no notice.
Parents of young children should remind their children about crossing the street safely, as well as wearing a helmet while cycling and staying safe on buses.
For the students who will be riding a bus to school, make sure they don't arrive at the bus stop too early, so they don't wander off or get distracted.
While waiting for the bus, make sure children are waiting safely away from the road and stay back from the street until the bus has made a full stop and the doors are open.
On top of that, children must walk at least three metres (ten feet) away while crossing in front of the bus, to help make sure the driver can see them.
If you are driving near a school bus, be extra cautious, and on an undivided road, it is illegal to pass a school bus once its signal lights are flashing, as children are often crossing the street at that time.
While on the bus, children should follow the driver's instructions, and follow some general rules for riding the bus.
Those are, get seated as quickly as possible and sit facing forward at all times, talk quietly, and don't fight, shout, or playing in the bus.
Also, keep heads, arms, and everything else inside the bus, and don't throw anything around inside the bus or out the windows.
When crossing the street, obey the crossing guard, as they are there to keep children safe.
If you are driving and come up to a green light, but a crossing guard is saying to stop, follow their direction and not the traffic light, as an unseen child could be crossing the street.
When packing lunches for children, make sure you are being allergy aware, keeping in mind that peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, soy, seafood, eggs, and milk are all allergens.
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