Red Cross offers back to school safety tips
NEWTON - If your school-age children are like most, when they head back to school this year they will get there on a school bus. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 24 million students nationwide start their school day by climbing aboard the standard yellow school bus. While doing so is eight times safer than riding in a passenger vehicle, an average of 11 school-aged pedestrians are killed by school transportation vehicles each year. The bottom line, NHTSA says, whether your children walk, ride the bus, take a bike, or travel in the family car, is to ensure their safety to and from school. Here are the NHTSA guidelines to make sure that happens each and every day: Tips for school bus riders Line up facing the bus, not alongside it. Do not play in the street while waiting for the bus. Carry all loose belongings in a bag or backpack, not in your hands. Never reach under the school bus to get anything that has fallen or rolled or been wind-blown beneath it. The bus driver may not be able to see you. When leaving the bus, move immediately to the sidewalk out of traffic and away from the bus. Wait for a signal from the bus driver before crossing in front of the bus and crossing the street. Walk at least 10 steps away from the front of the bus so the driver can clearly see you and you the driver. Never cross the street behind the bus or play behind the bus. Tips for pedestrians and bike riders Never walk alonealways travel with a buddy. Pay attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards along the way. Never cross the street against a stop light. Always wear a safety helmet when riding a bike. Avoid ill-fitting clothing that could get caught in spokes or pedals or restrict movement wear reflective colors and material to be more visible to street traffic, especially when it begins to get dark earlier. Walk your bike across all intersections. For more information, contact Ron Marin, Public Relations, at the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 93 Spring Street, Newton, NJ 07860. Telephone is 973-579-1600 (ext. 13). E-mail is rmarin@sussexredcross.org., or go to www.sussexredcross.org