Educate Your Children

School Bus Safety Tips for Children

QUICK TIPS

Tips for Parents

Summer is over and for hundreds of families it's back to school time, the Mt. Vernon Police Department and your local school districts have a few safety tips for you to help keep you safe this school year. Look to the left for links to articles that can help you out.

With children and buses returning to the morning rush hour, the Mt. Vernon Police Traffic Division would like to remind motorists to slow down and pay attention. Drivers must stop whenever red lights are flashing on school buses

Mt. Vernon Police Traffic Division WILL ENFORCE ALL TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS!!!!

Tips for Motorists -
• Watch for children crossing the road.
• Alwasy STOP for buses flashing red lights.
• Slow down to posted speed limits and even reduce your speed below 15 mph in and around school parking lots and entrances.
• Be cautions of school buses loading or unloading students, even if the lights are not flashing.
• Be alert for children walking to and from school as you back out of your driveway or leave your parking garage.
• Watch for children on bicycles, especially at intersections and driveways.

EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY

Mt. Vernon Police Department are reminding parents/guardians and children about back-to-school safety. Officers are routinely trained in child safety and missing children investigations. With the start of the new school year, they are sharing this information with parents.

Although the Police Department educates children in school on stranger danger, learning about community helpers, and several other child safety topics, parents can also help. The following tips are just a few suggestions.

• Be aware of putting your child's name on anything that is readily visible. This might allow an abductor to get on a "first name" basis with your child and develop a sense of trust.

• Walk the route to and from school with your children, pointing out safe places to go if they are being followed or need help.

• Talk to your children about strangers approaching them and some of the ploys they might use. Stress to them that adults shouldn'tneed a child's help to find a puppy or get directions, they should ask another adult for that information or help.

• Teach your children that it is okay to say NO - tell them to trust their instincts.

• Remind your children to never give the impression they are home alone if strangers telephone or come to the door. Never open the door for a stranger, and teach them about dialing 911.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY FOR CHILDREN

The Mt. Vernon Police Department encourage parents/guardians to discuss with their children the following school bus safety tips:

• Children should have a safe place to wait for the bus, away from traffic and the street. Avoid rough housing at bus stops.

• Children should stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver opens the door and signals the students to enter.

• When being dropped off, children should exit the bus and walk ahead of it before crossing in front. The driver can see children best when they are farther away from the bus.

• Students should always use handrails when entering and exiting the bus.

• Children should be aware of traffic in the roadways around them, before all drivers obey the law. Children should ALWAYS LOOK BOTH WAYS.

• If children have questions regarding their own safety or the behavior of other riders during thier trip, they should bring their concers to their parents, teachers or school officials immediately.

QUICK TIPS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY

Always use the BUDDY SYSTEM when walking to and from school. It's safer and more fun to be with your friends. Walkin in well lit areas and never take shortcuts. Stay with a group while waiting at the bus stop. If anyone bothers you while going to or from school, SAY NO, then go and tell a trusted adult like your parents or teacher.

Never leave school with someone you do not know. If someone you don't know offers a ride, say no. Never hitchhike or accept a ride from anyone unless your parents have told you it is okay to ride with that person. Always check first with a trusted adult if someone you do not know tells you that there is an emergency and they want you to go with them. Trust your instincts, if someone makes you scared or uncomfortable, get away as fast as you can and tell a trusted adult.

What to do if a stranger persists? If a stanger in a car bothers you, turn and run in the opposite direction. If a stranger tries to follow you on foot or tries to grab you, run away, scream and make lots of noise. The last thing a dangerous stranger wants is a lot of attention.

Play it safe - Teach your children how to avoid trouble.

Teach children how to spot trouble and be alert for strangers. Friendly strangers can be dangerous strangers. Teach young children when a stranger is: ANYONE THEY DO NOT KNOW WELL. Never get close to a car if a stranger calls out to your direction or anything elses. It is easy for a stranger to pull you into a car.
NEVER give your name or address to a stranger.
NEVER open the door to anyone you do not know.
NEVER tell callers that you are home alone.
NEVER volunteer family vacation plans or other information about your home.
NEVER play in deserted ares such as the woods, a parking lot, an alley, deserted building, or new construction.
ALWAYS try to play or walk with friend
ALWAYS keep doors and windows locked when home alone.
NEVER HITCHHIKE NEVER EVER.
NEVER walk or play alone outside at night.

Teach children how to respond - They should know how to dial 0 for the operator, 911 or any other emergency number used in your area. They should memorize their area code and phone number, and maybe a friends number as well as your work number. Encourage your kids to be alert and confident of thier surroundings and to look out for other kids safety aswell as reporting anything they see that does not seem right to them. Teach your children to write down and report to you the license numbers of people who offer rides, loiter around playgrounds, or appear to follow them or other children

Remember the more they know the safer their school year will be.