Red Cross offers back to school tips

WASHINGTON — As the coronavirus pandemic eases its hold in some areas of the country, most schools will be calling students back to the classroom soon after months of virtual learning. The American Red Cross wants to make sure your student is safe as they head back to school for the upcoming year.

“Parents and kids are both eager to get back to normal and return to the classroom as a new school year starts,” said Alex Dieffenbach, Red Cross Northwest Region CEO. “But let’s not forget to make safety a top priority.”

The American Red Cross offers these steps to help make the trip back to the classroom safe.

• If your student rides a bus to school, they should plan to get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive.

• Students should board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant has instructed them to get on. They should only board their bus, never an alternate one.

• All students should stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.

• Cross the street at the corner, obey traffic signals, and stay in the crosswalk.

• Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

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

• If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents should mandate that they use seat belts. Drivers should not use their cell phones to text or make calls and avoid eating or drinking while driving.

• Some students ride their bikes to school. They should always wear a helmet and ride on the right, in the same direction as the traffic is going.

• When children walk to school, they should only cross the street at an intersection and use a route along which the school has placed crossing guards.

• Parents should walk young children to school, along with children taking new routes or attending new schools, at least for the first week, to ensure they know how to get there safely. Arrange for students to walk to school with a friend or classmate.

In addition, parents of younger kids and those headed to school for the first time should also take a few special steps. Make sure the child knows 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. Teach children not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.

FACE COVERINGS

Have multiple cloth face coverings for each child so you can wash them and have back-ups ready.

Label your child’s cloth face-covering clearly with a permanent marker, so they aren’t confused with someone else’s.

Have your student practice putting the cloth face covering on and taking it off without touching the cloth.

Consider providing your child with a container (e.g., labeled resealable bag) to bring to school to store their cloth face coverings when not wearing it (e.g., when eating).

DRIVERS, SLOW DOWN!

Motorists should know what the yellow and red bus signals mean. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is getting ready to stop, and motorists should slow down and be prepared to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign indicate the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off. Drivers should be aware that children are out walking or biking to school and slow down, especially in residential areas and school zones.

Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus, or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. This includes two and four-lane highways. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails, or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.

PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES

Know what the emergency plan is at your child’s school in case a disaster or an unforeseen event occurs. Develop a family emergency plan so everyone will know who to contact and where to go if something happens while children are at school and parents are at work. Details are available at redcross.org/prepare.

TAKE A FIRST AID CLASS

The Red Cross First Aid App provides instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies, whether it be before, during, or after school. Download the app for free by searching for ‘American Red Cross’ in your app store or at redcross.org/apps. Learn and practice first aid and CPR skills by taking a course (redcross.org/takeaclass) so you can help save a life.