American Red Cross issues ‘safety checklist’ as Central IL students head back to school

CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — As students head back to school, the American Red Cross is issuing advice on how parents can keep their children safe and even what to do in the event of an emergency.

The Red Cross provided on Monday a “safety checklist” with advice depending on which scenario applies to each student:

If students are younger or going to school for the first time, parents should teach them:

• Their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to dial 911.
• Not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.

If students walk to school, parents should teach them to:

• Walk on the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.
• Stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming.
• Cross the street at the corner, obey traffic signals and stay in the crosswalk.
• Never run out into the street or cross between parked cars.

If students take the bus to school, parents should teach them to:

• 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.

If students ride their bikes to school, parents should teach them to:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Ride on the right in the same direction as the traffic is going.

If parents drive their children to school, they should:

• Teach their children to always wear a seat belt
• Use car seats or booster seats for children until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4’9”), and have them ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.

If a student is a teenager driving to school parents should make sure they:

• Use seat belts.
• Don’t use their cell phone to text or make calls
• Avoid eating or drinking while driving.

If students is joining a sports team, parents should make sure they:

• Wear protective gear, such as helmets, protective pads, etc.
• Warm up and cool down.
• Watch out for others.
• Know the location of the closest first aid kit and AED.

In addition, the Red Cross also issued advice to drivers, including:

• Flashing yellow lights on school busses means it is getting ready to stop
• Flashing red lights on school busses means it is stopped and children are getting on or off
  • If behind or approaching a stopped school bus on a two- or four-lane highway, all drivers must stop until the red lights have stopped flashing.
  • If physical barriers like grassy medians, guide rails or concrete barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, drivers in the oncoming lanes may proceed without stopping