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Going back to school can be an exciting time for children and their parents, but it can also be a dangerous time. During the back-to-school months, emergency departments experience drastic spikes in pedestrian and school bus-related injuries as 22 million students head back to class. Nearly all child-pedestrian accidents are preventable if safety guidelines are followed, and children, parents, and motorist are informed.

1. Children Are the Most Vulnerable Pedestrians

We all know that children tend to be the most vulnerable to injuries and it is because they are exposed to dangers that are beyond their cognitive and sensory development. Children, in general, are impulsive and have not developed crucial judgment skills to estimate how far away a car is and how quickly it is approaching. Children usually do not fully develop and master these skills until they are at least 10 years old.

2. There Really Is Safety In Numbers

It is much easier for motorists to see a group of children than a single child. It is important that we always remind our children to walk with at least one other school mate if they are going to be walking to or from school. Anytime that we can walk our children to the bus stop, to school or from school ourselves decreases the chance of a serious accident even further

3. Safety and Reflective Gear Are A Must

Certain clothing and gear can help children be spotted quicker, easier, and from further away. Bright orange, yellow, and white clothes are helpful and make a child easier to see. If your child stands at a bus stop in hours of poor light, during early morning or late in the day, wearing some sort of reflective gear will decrease the chance of an accident. Many jackets, shoes, book bags, and hats can be found with reflective tape already included. This reflective tape is extremely helpful to motorists. What is interesting is that a vehicle's headlights can pick up reflective clothing and gear from as far as 500 feet away.

4. Waiting Can Be Very Dangerous

When waiting for the bus to arrive, have your children stand in a safe place away from the street, and not approach the bus until it has come to a complete stop. This is something we all teach our children, though bus accidents still occur occasionally. To help your child remember these safety rules, it might be beneficial to scope out where your child will be waiting for the bus before school starts and designate a spot for your child to stand.

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