Schools all around the Triad are starting back. The school systems in Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, and and all across the Piedmont are ready for school to start! Please join our Daggett Shuler team in reviewing a few safety tips for this new school year.
First, let’s all be aware that traffic will be a little heavier this week. We all need to pay a little closer attention and use our very best driving skills to avoid an accident. Please be sure to be particularly careful around school busses.
Playground injuries are more frequent than most of us realize. Each year, more than 200,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for playground injuries. Most of these injuries occur when children fall from playground equipment. Of particular note, preschoolers are particularly susceptible to injuries on playgrounds if they are not properly supervised, and if the equipment is not appropriate or properly maintained. Additionally, preschools in North Carolina are not required to have insurance for their playground activities. Therefore, it is a good idea to check to make sure that the preschool of your choice has proper insurance so that any resulting injury expenses can be covered.
There are a growing number of injuries related to children using overloaded backpacks. Be sure to help children sort through their backpacks to make sure they are not carrying or collecting additional items. The backpacks should be appropriately sized for the child, and children should stop during the day to repack their books instead of carrying the entire day’s worth of books at one time. Teaching children to carry a safe load can prevent ongoing back difficulties.
Help your children develop a safety routine for going to and coming from school. They will want to have a route that is direct and safe. Remember, in the next several months it will begin getting darker, so you will want to make sure your children wear reflective material that will make them more visible to traffic. Make sure your children know their phone number, address, and how to reach you if necessary. Teach your children not to talk to strangers, and teach them to call for help or 911 in case of an emergency.
We look forward to a safe and successful start to the new school year. Please help your youngsters and students, or the young ones in your neighborhood so that our entire community begins this new school year safely.