5 Back-to-School Safety Tips for Parents, Caregivers

With students returning to school this month, DeKalb County Fire Rescue is offering safety tips to for children, walkers and motorists.

In addition to drivers looking out for children in residential areas and in school zones just before and after school hours, children should have retro-reflective tape affixed to their back packs and/or outerwear clothing. Children also should stop at the edge or corner of the street and never run into the street. Other tips include:

• Review the route with your children that they should use to safely travel to and from school.
• Talk to your children about road signs and what they mean.
• Show your children safe areas to stand and wait for bus pick-up and where and how to safely cross the street.
• Talk to your children about looking to their left and right and being observant about cars, trucks and other vehicles, before attempting to cross the street.
• Communicate the importance of waiting until the street is clear of vehicles before crossing the street, and keep looking to both sides until they have safely crossed the street.

What else should parents tell their children? Tell us in the comments section below.