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Back to School Safety Tips for Parents
Over a million Wisconsin children and teens will travel the streets and highways to and from school during this school year, and it will be a new experience for many of them. This journey has the potential of being hazardous, so please take time to review safety tips with your child.
- Tell your child to always walk with others, stay in well lit areas and never take short cuts or go into isolated areas. Teach them to remain aware of their surroundings by being observant. Don't assume that your child knows the traffic rules or signals. Review or teach them these rules so they can share the roads and walkways with others more safely.
- Take the time to walk to and from school with your child so that you are able to point out landmarks and safe places to go if they need help or are being followed.
- Encourage your child to immediately get away from people who make them feel scared, confused or uncomfortable, and then to make certain to tell a trusted adult if this happens. Inform your child that adults should approach other adults, not children, for directions or help. Teach your child to never accept gifts or money from strangers.
- Educate your child on how a stranger may trick them into becoming confused or engage them in conversation. Don't allow your child to display any items that may have their name visible, and tell them not to be fooled if a stranger calls out their name. Teach your child that if they are approached by a stranger, they don't have to be polite and they should immediately move away from the situation and go to a designated safe place.
- Make certain that your school has up-to-date information for contacting you in an emergency.
- Teach your child to be vocal and immediately move away if somebody is following them or tries to take them somewhere. Coach them to yell, "this person is taking me away" or "this person is not my mother or father" so that attention can be drawn to the situation.
- If your child takes a bicycle to school, make sure they are wearing their bike helmet and that they follow traffic rules and are attentive to traffic signals and signs. Keep in mind, bright colored clothing will make your child more visible.
- If a car or truck is used to travel to and from school make sure all who are in the vehicle are "buckled up."
The Stevens Point Fire Department hopes that these
tips will help you keep your child's journey to and from school safe during this upcoming school year.