Back to School 2015
3
Tips for a healthy school year
Students are most likely to get sick when
school starts because being at school put
children’s immune systems to the test, offers
The Mayo Clinic. Young children who are in
close proximity to others in large groups tend
to spread organisms like bacteria and viruses
that cause illness. Breaking the cycle can take
some work, but it’s possible to make this a
healthy school year.
Encourage handwashing
Frequent handwashing is a great way to
prevent illness. Handwashing habits are
essential for school-aged children and should
be taught as soon as possible. Children should
wash their hands after they use the bathroom
and before they eat. If they’ve been playing
outside or have interacted with children
who are sick, handwashing can help remove
some of the germs lingering on their hands.
Antibacterial wipes are another option, but
they may not be as effective as washing hands
with warm, soapy water.
Stop (some) sharing
Sharing develops good manners and can
foster new friendships. But children should
be discouraged from sharing food, drinks and
other personal items. Once the item has been
placed in a child’s mouth, it should not be
shared.
Take a sick day
Rare is the student who will never come down
with an illness. When kids get sick, keep
them at home. Schools may have guidelines
indicating when it is acceptable for children to
return to school, and it’s important that parents
adhere to those guidelines so illnesses cannot
spread around the school.
Promote adequate sleep and nutrition
While adults may need between seven and
nine hours of sleep a night, children often
require more. The National Sleep Foundation
recommends eight to 13 hours of sleep a night
for school-aged children. Begin adjusting sleep
schedules during the latter part of summer
vacation so that children can readjust to their
regular sleep schedules.
Parents also should feed kids nutritious diets
consisting of a variety of foods. Avoid high-
calorie junk foods, reserving such items only
as special treats every so often.
Donate cleaning supplies
Some schools may be underfunded and may
not have enough supplies to keep all of the
classrooms and surfaces clean. Parents can
help by donating cleaning wipes and sprays so
that students and teachers can thrive in clean,
healthy environments
School bus safety tips to impart to youngsters
Each day thousands upon thousands of
children board school buses to take them
to and from school. Parents and caregivers
entrust their children's well-being to the care
of school bus drivers and aides. Although
parents may worry about school bus accidents,
such accidents are few and far between.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration advises that school buses are
designed to be safer than passenger vehicles
in avoiding crashes and protecting against
injury. Buses are arguably the safest mode of
transportation for getting kids to and from
school. By keeping millions of cars off the
roads surrounding schools, school buses
contribute to less crowded roadways, which
are less conducive to accidents.
Danger zone
Though parents may feel buses are most likely
to be in accidents while in transit, experts
advise that children are more likely to get hurt
during pickups and drop-offs when they're in
the "danger zone" of the bus. The danger zone
is a 10-foot radius around the outside of the
bus. Bus drivers and other motorists find kids
in the danger zone are more difficult to see,
and children can get struck by either the bus or
oncoming cars that fail to stop when the bus is
picking kids up or dropping them off.
Knowing the safety rules
While a large part of protecting children is
on the shoulders of the school bus driver,
it is also vital for passengers to learn the
basics of school bus safety. Kindergarteners
or children who are riding the bus for the
first time should be taught the rules of
school bus safety.
Some schools offer a school bus tour prior
to the new school year. This lets youngsters
acclimate themselves with the look and feel
of the school bus. This introduction also
may include information about bus safety,
but parents can also educate their children
(and themselves) about using caution in
and around the bus by following these
guidelines.
• Get to the bus stop 5 to 10 minutes prior
to the assigned pickup time. Rushing last-
minute can lead to injury, especially if
you're chasing down the bus.
• Remain on the sidewalk or grass at the bus
stop. Do not step off the curb into the street
until the bus has arrived and is completely
stopped.
• When boarding the bus, go directly to a seat
and sit down. Buckle up if there are seatbelts
on the bus.
• Remain seated while the bus is in motion.
• Keep voices low so as not to distract the
driver.
• Keep your head and hands inside of the bus,
and never hang out of the window.
• Do not throw things on the bus or play rough
with friends or classmates.
• Keep the aisle clear at all times.
• Be careful when getting off the bus. Hold on
while going down the stairs.
• Only get off at your designated stop unless
you have permission to get off elsewhere.
• When exiting the bus, walk at least 10 steps
past the front of the bus and cross in front
where the driver can see you. Do not cross
behind the bus.
• Wait for the driver to give you a signal that it
is safe to cross. Be sure to check that all cars
on the road have come to a complete stop.
• Get to the sidewalk or off the street as
quickly as possible.
• If you've forgotten something on the bus, do
not run back and attempt to retrieve it. The
driver might not see you and start the bus.
Rather, call the bus company and see if you
can pick it up at another time.
• Do not get into the cars of strangers waiting
around bus stops, even if they offer to take
you home.
Parents can arrange to meet with bus drivers
so that they will recognize their faces. Adults
also can encourage schools to host bus safety
courses to further ensure their youngsters are
safe.
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