With the kids returning to school this autumn, safety is undoubtedly at the forefront of parents’ minds as we pass them over once again to the education system. Your mind should rest assured, however, that health and safety is one of the highest priorities within the school building.
Whether you live in a built up area, a city, or a quiet country town, one of the greatest risks posed to your children is related to car safety and road accidents. Car accidents are responsible for the majority of child fatalities, and for this reason it is important to have your children clued up on the dangers that busy roads may pose to them.
You might want to educate your child from a young age on road safety and get them into good habits early on. Teach them how to find a safe place to cross, either through the use of traffic lights, a responsible adult or a lollipop lady. Remind them to be careful at all times, particularly when playing and encourage them to play well away from the road. Dress your child in bright clothing and during the dark winter months consider adding florescent or reflective clothing to keep them extra visible to passing traffic. Don’t forget that children tend to copy the behaviour they see in adults, so don’t take risks when crossing the road otherwise they could emulate this.
Schools will always try to encourage positive road safety attitudes and many offer specific lessons for pupils with regards to staying safe near roads.
Another aspect of school safety to consider is the journey to and from school. Safety whilst in the car is a serious matter and the law dictates that certain precautions must be followed to keep your child safe. No matter what age your child is, he or she must be strapped in with a safety belt to protect them in the event of a collision. The driver of the car is the person responsible for making sure this rule is followed.
Other safety tips to consider are not setting off before everyone is safely fastened in, no matter how much of a rush you are in. Also do not place large or heavy objects on the back shelf of the car as these can be thrown forwards during an accident and injure any passengers in their path, instead, store them in the car boot.
Finally, a comprehensive level of car insurance is important to keep your family protected too and will offer you financial assistance in the case of an accident whilst driving your kids to school.