Back to School Safety

To help you keep your kids free from harm, here are some safety tips from the Cosumnes Fire Department and Safe Kids Worldwide. 

Traveling to and from School

• Slow down and be alert in residential areas and near schools. 
• Be watchful of kids in rural areas without sidewalks.
• Plan a walking route to school or the bus stop with the most direct way with the fewest street crossings.
• Children 10 and under should not cross streets unsupervised. 
• Children must learn to look left, right and left again when crossing. Stick to the crosswalk. Walk, do not run, across the street.
• Children that ride a bike or scooter should always wear a helmet. 
• Children riding a bike or scooter should wear sturdy shoes, a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. 
• Children should learn to arrive at the bus stop early and stay out of the street. Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching the street. Always watch for cars and avoid the driver’s blind spot.
• Teach your child to memorize phone numbers and home address.
• Educate your child on how to call 911 for emergencies.

On the Playground 

• Check the playground equipment at your child’s school. Look for hazards such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. 
• The surface around play equipment should be covered with wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or fiber material to prevent head injury when a child falls. Report any hazards to the school.
• Avoid drawstrings on the hood or around the neck of jackets and sweatshirts. Drawstrings at the waist or bottom of jackets should extend no more than three inches long to prevent catching in car and school bus doors or getting caught on playground equipment.
• Teach children proper playground behavior: no pushing, shoving, or crowding.

Make sure your child’s school has up-to-date information on recalled toys and children’s products. Schools, daycare providers and parents can receive recall information by fax, email, or in the regular mail free of charge by calling the Consumer Product Safety Commission hotline at 800-638-2772, or visiting the organization’s web site.