{"id":9325,"date":"2013-08-29T10:44:00","date_gmt":"2013-08-29T10:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/301webdemo.com\/oegema\/?p=9325"},"modified":"2026-02-06T05:12:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T05:12:51","slug":"back-to-school-safety-tips-for-kids-ottawa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/blog\/back-to-school-safety-tips-for-kids-ottawa\/","title":{"rendered":"Back to School Safety Tips for Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The time has come for kids to go back to school, much to their delight\u2026 Although the summer has hopefully been a relaxing and care-free break for your kids, it\u2019s important that they are educated and aware of the potential hazards that even something as simple as going to school can bring. Unfortunately so, we often think of violence at schools as one of the more prominent risks, but in fact it is still the unintentional accidents that top the incident list. We\u2019ve put together a simple list that you can review with your child(ren) to help ensure they have safety in mind when going to school everyday.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Back to School Safety Tips<\/h2>

1. It\u2019s not only moving vehicles that are a danger. Many accidents happen on driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots, especially in \u201cback-over\u201d or \u201cfront-over\u201d incidents. If you are driving your kids to work, take extra precautions when backing up in your own driveway and in school parking lots. You need your full alertness, so even picking up your phone for a second is not a good idea. You should also educate your kids on the following:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJust because they see a car, doesn\u2019t mean it sees them. They should make eye contact with the driver before crossing a street.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTreat a parked car as if it has a driver in it. Don\u2019t run around parking lots, and don\u2019t cut in blindly behind a vehicle, as you never know when it might be ready to back up. Children should never remain still either when in a blind spot of a vehicle, such as to tie a shoe or pick something up.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAs always, don\u2019t rush across a street and always look both ways.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf you are driving your kids to school, drop them off as close to the school as possible and don\u2019t leave until you can see that they\u2019ve entered the premises.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    2. Plan their route to school. If your child walks to school, you should develop a route plan with them that involves the least amount of street-crossings and busy roads. You should also walk the route with them beforehand. Teach them the following:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStay away from hidden areas where they can\u2019t be seen, like empty parking lots, parks, behind buildings, etc.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlways walk with a buddy! You might even try to organize with other kids nearby to walk to school together.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNever speak to strangers.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tObey all traffic signals.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf they are biking to school, make sure they wear a helmet and walk their bycicle across intersections and roads.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      3. Make sure they know your contact information. Whether your child ends up taking the wrong school bus and needs to tell the driver their address or has to phone home for any reason, this is always very important information to know.   <\/p>


      <\/p>

      4. Educate them on safety at school. Although we would like to be able to think of schools as a safe place, we also need to teach our children how to look out for themselves. Some points to educate them on are:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen playing in the school yard or on the playground, don\u2019t push, shove or overcrowd.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTeach your children the importance of treating others with respect and kindness. Bullying is an increasingly large problem and parents can help by educating children early on. You should also teach them how to deal with bullying, including walking away or telling them to stop. If it persists, they should tell a teacher.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf you notice or hear of any dangers or potential risks at your child\u2019s school, such as faulty playground equipment or strange objects found, report it to the school.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        With a little caution and preparation, we can make school a much safer, enjoyable and rewarding place. Hope everyone has a great school year! \u2013 The ONA Team.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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