The Seven Highly Effective Steps to Keeping Your Child Safe

Photo by James Kraemer, 2safeschools.org. May be used for public service use in flyers, the press and noncommercial educational use. May not be sold without permission.
Photo by James Kraemer, 2safeschools.org. May be used for public service use in flyers, the press and noncommercial educational use. May not be sold without permission from the author. Contact Address: [email protected].

at the bus stop and while riding the school bus

PRESS RELEASE

Topic: School Bus Safety

Contact: James Kraemer, 2safeschools.org
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The Seven Highly Effective Steps to Keeping Your Child Safe

at the bus stop and while riding the school bus
by James Kraemer

Every school year districts, government agencies and the press dedicate public service time and space to school bus safety issues. When considering the most dangerous events, concerning school buses, discussion can often point readers to motorists ignoring the bus stop law. Not violating the bus stop law is only one part of the effort to help keep kids safe. Here are seven highly effective steps to keeping your child safe at the bus stop and while riding the school bus.

1. Child predators must not be the only adults watching over children at the bus stop. Abductions are of serious concern these days. Children twelve and under are preferred targets. Children have been abducted from their own driveway. Escort your child to and from the bus stop or work with other parents at the bus stop to help keep your child safe.

2. It is unlawful for school buses to impede traffic. Be at the bus stop at least a few minutes early. Stay back at least ten feet from the road and remain there as the bus arrives. Children waiting in cars at the bus stop need be out of the car and ready to board when they see or hear the bus coming. Remain waiting off the road until the bus stops and the bus entry door opens. Any hugs or the like should occur before the bus arrives.

3. Every year the press warns about the dangers of motorists running the school bus stop sign. Disobeying the bus stop law is one of the risks related to motorists striking children crossing the road. Few parents realize that over half the children killed at the bus stop are run over by the child's own school bus. To reduce risk escort young children across the road after the bus driver signals to cross. Stay at least twelve-feet forward the bus when crossing. Stay out of the path of the bus and wait for the bus driver's signal before crossing back across the road.

4. When late to the bus stop, and when the bus entry door closes, instruct your child to walk away from the bus. Never chase a moving school bus or follow in a car to another bus stop. Children chasing the bus and walking unexpected along side the bus is a leading cause of children killed at the bus stop.

5. Know your bus driver, the bus environment your child is riding in and what to do next. The vast majority of school bus crashes and deaths at the school bus stop are a result of bus driver distraction due to student misbehavior dividing the bus driver's concentration. Calm, safe school bus environments are free from loud out-of-control behaviors, threats, bullying, property damage, things in the mouth such as candy or gum, and any displays of disrespect toward fellow students, the bus driver and the bus driver's directions. Write a note for your child to give your bus driver that encourages the driver to call you in the event your child does anything not expected on the school bus or at the bus stop. Also, write a note to the bus driver when concerning any event affecting your child that does not support a calm, safe school bus environment. Avoid discussions with the driver at the bus stop.

6. Overcrowding increases risk of injuries. The school bus is overcrowded when students and belongings are not within the protective area referred to as compartmentalization, a school bus safety feature provided schoolchildren riding the school buses. Manufactures and a multitude of school bus safety organizations are very clear about this seating capacity exception. Overcrowded buses with students forced to sit part-way into the aisle, otherwise sitting improperly or standing defeats the compartmental protection features of the school bus. The children least likely to be seriously injured or killed in a bus crash are seated properly within the protection of their seating compartment, similar to children riding school buses equipped with seat belts. Compartmentalization, remember, is supposed to replace the need for seat belts on school buses.

7. Expect timely service and be prepared for mishaps. School buses need to stay within five or so minutes of the schedule without speeding to help insure safe conditions at bus stops and even on the bus. The highest risk of incidents - kids dropped at the wrong bus stop, lost kids, children left asleep on the bus and other mishaps often happen on untimely routes, routes doubled-up or otherwise miss-scheduled routes over stressing school staff and the bus driver. Substitute bus drivers seem most prone to serious incidents. Include a card in your child's backpack that provides the child's name, bus stop information and where to call for more information. Be aware of where your child is supposed to be. If the bus passes by when your child is supposed to be on that bus immediately call the provider's emergency contact number and report your missing child. Alert daycare providers, and other people where your child may be transported to on occasion, to also be aware of this necessity to help keep your child safe.

Although this activity may not be a safety issue in itself, please remember that school bus drivers perform their duties day in and day out, often in a workplace environment considered a "thankless job" that contributes to attrition. Too many parents fail to take the time to simply thank their bus driver for helping keep kids safe. School bus drivers need to know you appreciate their efforts and that you are ready to help.

During the approaching holidays and toward the end of the school year have your child give the bus driver a thank you card. Homemade cards are excellent and provide your child a fun project at home.

Keeping children safe requires an interdependent relationship between school bus drivers, bus riders, school staff and parents. One part of this process omitted or ignored increases risks unnecessarily and often without acceptable excuse. Make no excuses. Endorse that part of the village that helps keep kids safe.

For more information on how to help keep your child safe at the bus stop and on the bus visit 2safeschools.org on-line.

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