Healthy Living

Whether its walking to school or playground safety equipment, children need to be reminded about staying safe as the school year starts. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of unintentional death among children ages five to 14. Children who walk to school or a bus stop should be reminded to:

• Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
• Always look for a crossing guard and cross the street with him or her.
• Cross in front of the bus only after the driver has signaled its okay to walk.

For your teenagers, remind them to always buckle up and require any passengers to do the same. According to the III, statistics show that teen drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash. In fact, 6,000 young people are killed each year in fatal crashes. If your son or daughter drives to school, also remind them to always obey the speed limit and be sure to enforce the no drinking and driving rule.

Other Hazards

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds us to keep these additional hidden hazards in mind:
Drawstrings on Jackets and Sweatshirts: There should be no drawstrings on hoods or around the neck. Drawstrings at the waist or bottom of jackets should extend no more than three inches to prevent catching in car and school bus doors or getting caught on playground equipment.

Bike Helmets: Buy a helmet that meets safety standards and insist that your children wear the helmet each time they ride their bike. About 900 people, including more than 200 children, are killed annually in bicycle-related incidents, and about 60 percent of these deaths involve a head injury. More than 500,000 people are treated annually in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries. Helmets can help reduce the risk of head injury.

Soccer Goals: Make sure the athletic director or the custodian anchors the soccer goals into the ground so that the soccer goal will not tip over and crush a child.

Playgrounds: Check the surfaces around playground equipment at schools and parks to make sure there is a 12-inch depth of wood chips, mulch, sand or pea gravel, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or fiber material to prevent head injury when a child falls. Each year, more than 200,000 children go to U.S. hospital emergency rooms with injuries associated with playground equipment. Most injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment onto the ground.

Recalled Products: Make sure your childs school has up-to-date information on recalled toys and childrens products.

The start of a new school year can bring both excitement and anxiety. As you and your children anticipate the upcoming social and academic pressures, help ensure a safe transition from summer to school by keeping safety as a top of mind issue.