Back to School Safety

It’s that time of year again when many individuals we know are preparing to return to school. Ensuring their safety should be our priority! If your child walks to school, it is crucial to follow these guidelines: Always utilize the sidewalk whenever it is available. If there is no sidewalk, make sure to walk facing the oncoming traffic. Prior to crossing the street, remember to stop and thoroughly check both left and right for any approaching vehicles. It is essential to never dart out suddenly in front of a parked car. If your child needs to adjust their backpack, instruct them to do so in front of the house rather than in the driveway. Sometimes drivers are in a hurry and may pull out without checking for pedestrians.

Ensuring Child Safety: Walking and Bus Safety Tips

To further enhance safety, practice walking to school with your child. In the case of taking the bus to school, it is important to familiarize your child with these safety tips: Teach them to maintain a distance of six feet (or approximately 3 giant steps) away from the edge of the curb. If you and your child need to cross the street in front of the bus, walk alongside the road until you are at least 10 feet ahead of the bus. This ensures that you have clear visibility of the bus driver, and the driver can also see you clearly. After School safety is equally crucial. Start by discussing with your children who is allowed to enter the home. Create a plan for answering the phone and door.

Sometimes it’s better to communicate that you’re busy rather than remaining silent, as burglars often observe homes to determine which ones are vulnerable to break-ins.

Augmenting Protection with Video Cameras:

To further enhance after- School safety, you can monitor your alarm system and utilize Alarm.com interactivity. This feature enables you to receive email or text message notifications for any alarm triggered by the security system. Please note that these automated alerts are independent of the emergency response services provided by the central monitoring station. And if you’re looking for additional protection, consider installing video cameras that provide remote access, allowing you to monitor any potential concerns.

Kirk Booher, Onguards.