Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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10 UCW AUGUST 24 - 30, 2022 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM As students head back to the class- room, the American Red Cross has steps to help kids remain safe. For parents, it's a good time to think about emergencies, such as weather- related disasters. Know what the emer- gency plan is at your child's school and develop a family emergency plan so everyone will know who to contact and where to go if something hap- pens during the school day. Details are available at redcross.org/prepare. "ere are a lot of things to think about for the start of a busy new school year, but don't forget to include safety," said Barry Porter, Regional CEO, American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region. CELL PHONES A DISTRACTION e National Safety Council reports distracted walking can be dangerous, even deadly. Teach your students the following: •Don't text or talk on your phone while walking. If you must text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk. •Never cross the street while using an electronic device. •Do not walk with headphones in your ears. •Drivers can be distracted too. Never use a phone while driving. TAKING THE BUS •Students should get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting. Young children should be supervised. •Board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or at- tendant instructs them to get on. ey should only board their bus, never an alternate one. •All students should stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus. WALKING TO SCHOOL •Cross the street at the corner, obey- ing traffic signals and staying in the crosswalk. •Never run out into the street or cross between parked cars. •Use a route along which the school has placed crossing guards. •Parents, walk with young children and those taking new routes or at- tending new schools, for the first week to ensure they know how to get there safely. Arrange for the kids to walk to school with a friend or classmate. GOING BY CAR •Everyone should always wear a seat belt. Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap- shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4'9"), and ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old. RIDING A BIKE ere may be more young people on bikes as the school bells ring. ey should: •Wear a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing. •Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, in a single file. •Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; walk bikes across the street. •Stay alert to avoid distracted riding. SLOW DOWN Drivers should slow down, espe- cially in residential areas and school zones. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is getting ready to stop, that motorists should slow down and be prepared to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign indicate the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is with- drawn, and all children have reached safety. is includes two and four-lane highways. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping. KEEP LITTLE ONES SAFE Keeping all students safe is the pri- mary concern for everyone, but there are special steps for parents of younger kids and those going to school for the first time: •Make sure the child knows their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to call 911. •Teach children not to talk to strang- ers or accept rides from someone they don't know. Finally, download the free Red Cross First Aid app for instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies. You can find it by searching for 'American Red Cross' in your app store or at redcross.org/apps. Red Cross offers steps to keep students safe a STAFF REPORT NEWS