The Cookie Cutter Kids at WVU Medicine Children’s are getting ready to head back to school, so we want to make sure your children are starting the year off on the right foot alongside them!

That starts with making sure everyone arrives at school safely.

Whether your child waits at the bus stop, rides the school bus, is picked up by a parent, or carpools, all carry risks. These tips can help your students be safe not only on the first day, but every day of school.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, school buses are the safest way to get children to and from school, but injuries can still occur.

Each year, 16,000 children are injured in pedestrian-related accidents. Just walking to the school bus can be very dangerous if children are not taught proper safety precautions.

You don’t have to wait until the bus pulls up to start teaching your kids to be safe. In fact, starting early could get little ones excited about riding the bus for the first time.

The next time you’re on a family walk or outing, try practicing pedestrian safety skills with your kids – things like looking both ways and listening for cars before crossing the street; taking three giant steps back away from the curb; and removing distractions like music players or cellphones.

Making sure children are visible to all drivers is also a key component to pedestrian safety. A good rule of thumb to follow: if you cannot see the driver, the driver cannot see you. Always designate an adult to be present at the bus stop when young children are present or when kids are standing at the stop in the dark.

It’s not only car drivers that need to be able to see children; this rule also applies to the school bus driver. If your child crosses the road to get on or off the bus, make sure they wait until the bus comes to a complete stop. Then, make sure they leave a healthy distance in front of the bus as they cross – about the length of five giant steps - and look up to make eye contact with the bus driver, just in case they tell the students to wait before crossing.

Bus stop safety isn’t just for parents and students, it’s for all of us who are driving near bus stops and school zones. Drivers should follow the speed limit and slow down in these areas. It’s critical to stay alert, even on those hectic mornings!

When the bus lights are flashing yellow, the bus is slowing down and preparing to stop. When the school bus’ lights are red, the bus is stopped. All drivers must also stop and wait until all kids are clear of the road.

Once all passengers are safely on the bus, there is still a lot to remember. Talk to your children about behaviors expected on the school bus. Many school districts have the rules of the bus listed near the front by the driver. These rules should be reviewed during the first week of school. However, preparing your student ahead of time will help keep them as safe as possible. Remind your bus rider to respect the rules of the bus and bus driver, to practice quiet voices, and ride facing the front of the bus.

Getting to school safely is only half the journey each day; remind your kids that the same rules they used getting on the bus at home, also apply at school. Children should always hold the handrails while going up and down the steps and use those five or six giant steps in front of the bus to cross so the driver can see them.

Car riders, those students who will be driven to school in a private vehicle, must ride in a child safety seat that has been designed for their height or weight.

Most pre-kindergarten students should be riding in a five-point harness.

Most elementary school students (kindergarten to fifth grade) should ride in a booster seat, using the lap and shoulder belt.

All students under 13-years-old should ride in the vehicle’s back seat.

To keep younger children in their safety seats during parent drop-off, talk to your school about having a designated location in the parking lot where these students may be properly unbuckled without interfering with the flow of drop-off traffic before being escorted to the school by their caregivers. The few minutes this may add to your morning or afternoon prevent serious injury this school year!

We know preparing for the school year can be a bit stressful at times, but it should be fun and exciting for both you and your children. For more ways to practice back-to-school safety, check out Safekids.org. If you are interested in having your child’s car seat checked for safety, e-mail the WVU Medicine Children’s Injury Prevention and Safety Team at wvumchildrensinjuryprevention@wvumedicine.org.