4 Tips for Back-to-School Safety

Written by: Morgan Terry, volunteer

As the Summer comes to a close, the American Red Cross encourages everyone to help students stay safe and be prepared as they return to school this fall. Parents and family members can take action by discussing safety procedures and develop plans, such as: 

1. For children in elementary and middle school who walk, have a designated route to get home and practice walking it a few times. Try to find routes with as little traffic if possible, and encourage your student to walk with friends or in a group. 
2. For students walking to school in poor weather such as rain or snow, make sure to dress them properly. Slippery or icy conditions can cause injury, especially for small children. Consider other ways to get your child to school if the weather is extremely poor. 
3. For students leaving for college, pack an emergency kit, just like you would have at home, for students to keep in their dorm. The kit should include items to use in the event of a power outage, poor weather, a fire or other emergency. 
4. If your student has an illness or medical condition, be sure to send them to school with everything they might need in the event of an emergency. It is also a good idea to consider having your student keep a first aid kit in their backpack. 

For more information on how to keep students safe, read these Red Cross Resources for Schools.