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

School Safety Dates

Back-to-School Safety Month (August)

August is designated as Back-to-School Safety Month. Cosumnes Fire Department would like to remind motorists to be extra careful at all times. Back to school means more kids are back on the streets. Parents and kids both need to remember how to stay safe during this busy time of year. Accidents can be prevented if parents are on the lookout for potential hazards.

walk to school day

Walk To School Day (October)

International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration – with record breaking participation – each October. 

Cosumnes Fire Department encourages the community to participate in your school’s Walk To School Day. This annual event is fun, provides physical activity, reduces air pollution, reduces traffic congestion, and improves neighborhood connections.