As summer draws to a close, it’s time to head back to school, meet new friends and say hello to fall. Just like teachers, books, and homework go together with the new school year, safety education should be a priority for every family.
The National Fire Protection Association and E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire & Safety offer these tips to play it safe!
Bus Safety
While waiting for the bus, take five giant steps back from the curb until the bus has stopped completely.
- Inside the bus, stay seated at all times.
- Keep your arms, hands and head inside the bus.
- Never throw anything about of the bus window.
- Always hold on the bus handrails when you are getting on or off the bus so you don’t fall.
- Be careful that clothing, book bags, and key rings don’t get caught in the handrails or doors.
- When exiting the bus, go to the closest sidewalk or side of the road and take five giant steps away from the bus.
- If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. If you bend over to pick it up, the bus driver may not be able to see you.
Safely Walking to School
Children under age 10 should never cross a street without a grown-up.
- Choose a safe route to school. Look for the most direct route with the fewest street crossings.
- When crossing the street, stop at the curb or edge of the road.
- Look left, then right, then left again for moving cars before crossing.
- Keep looking left and right until you are safely across the street – and remember to walk, not run.
- Follow all traffic signals and markings.
- Don’t enter the street from between parked cars or from behind bushes or shrubs. Drivers might not be able to see you.
- Never wear head phones or talk on a cell phone when crossing the street.
Bicycle Safety
If you are old enough to ride alone, plan a safe route to school and have a grown-up ride with you the first few times.
- Children under 10 shouldn’t ride on the road without a grown-up.
- Be sure that your helmet fits. It should sit even on top of the head – not rocking in any direction – and always fasten the safety strap.
- Learn the proper hand signals and use them when you turn or stop.
- Walk, do not ride your bike across the street.
- Come to a complete stop before entering driveways, paths, or sidewalks, then look left, right and left again for bikes, cars or pedestrians heading your way.
- Do not ride at night.
Car Safety
If you are riding to school in a car, the safest place to be if you are 12 years old or younger is in the back seat buckled up safely. Remember, you should be in a booster seat until you are eight years old and 80 pounds.
Fire Safety
And last, but not least, this is a great time to review and practice your home fire escape plan and prepare children for the first fire drill of the new school year.
When the fire alarm activates:
- Stop what you are doing and immediately exit the building. Remain quiet and listen for further instructions from a teacher or over the public address system.
- Once you are outside, go quickly to your meeting place for roll call.
- Always know 2 ways out of any room (like a door and window) in case one exit is blocked by smoke or fire.
- Never go back inside – Get Out and Stay Out.
The #1 item students need when they return to school is an abundance of safety knowledge. It is important for parents to stay up-to-date on the proper safety precautions and share this information with children to keep them safe at home, the mall, library or school throughout the year.
Many college-related fires result from a general lack of knowledge about fire safety. Since 2000, 86 fatal fires have occurred on U.S. college campuses, in Greek housing, or in off-campus housing within three miles of the campus.
According to the United States Fire Administration, more than 80% of campus fire fatalities occur in off-campus housing. This has a direct impact on the prevention, planning and response activities for fire and emergency services departments located near colleges and universities.
Important fire facts
- On average, ten students die annually in campus related fires, according to the Center for Campus Fire Safety.
- Four out of five campus-related fire deaths occur in off-campus housing where approximately two-thirds of our students live.
- Alcohol is a factor in many of these fire related deaths. Alcohol abuse impairs judgment and hampers evacuation efforts.
- An estimated 3,800 campus fires occur each year in the United States.
- Cooking causes more than two-thirds of fire injuries at college campuses, followed by careless smoking, arson, unattended candles, and the overloading of extension cords and power strips.
Here are some fire safety tips that could save your life
- Select a residence hall or off campus housing that has smoke alarms and fire sprinklers. These mitigation devices reduce the risk of dying in a fire by 82%.
- Cook only where permitted and never leave cooking unattended.
- Don’t smoke. But if you must, only smoke outside of the building.
- Do not overload electrical outlets.
- Never leave candles unattended, provide a one-foot circle of safety clear of anything that might come in contact with the candle like table clothes, curtains, or papers and put candles out after each use.
- Always have and practice an escape plan.
- Look for an alternate exit from every room whether at a party or in class.
- If you must escape through smoke, Get Low and Go under the smoke toward an exit.
By following these tips, injuries and even deaths will be prevented. Fire Is Everyone’s Fight ™ Where You Live!
Pack up the family and get out of the house on Tuesday, August 5, for the 31st annual National Night Out. The goal of National Night Out is to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts, encourage police and community cooperation, and demonstrate neighborhood unity in fighting crime and deterioration.
On Tuesday night, August 5, residents are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights, and spend the evening outdoors on the porches, lawns, streets, or in parks with their neighbors. Many neighborhoods throughout West Michigan will be hosting a variety of special events.
One big event planned in Kent County Michigan is the South Kent Night Out Against Crime. It will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at 1515 Eastport Drive SE in Grand Rapids, behind Peppino’s Restaurant. It will be a great time for the whole family with food, a Ronald McDonald magic show, motorcycle stunt team, mascots, the E.S.C.A.P.E. mobile training center, and more. Admission is free!
Jake The Fire Safety Dog, Crusier from Craig’s Cruiser McGruff the Crime Prevention Dog thanks to our friends at EPS Security, and Grandma On The Go, Joy from eightWest and WOOD TV 8 will all be on site to meet guests of the South Kent County National Night Out event.
Watch the announcement with Maranda, Jake The Fire Safety Dog and Firefighter Michael McLeieer live inside the E.S.C.A.P.E. smoke demonstration trailer at the Park Party yesterday in Battle Creek!
Trenten Dollaway of Battle Creek is the One Millionth person to go through the E.S.C.A.P.E. smoke demonstration trailer. He and his family won the grand prize to the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, free tickets to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, free passes to Craig’s Cruisers fun center in Wyoming, Michigan, free haircuts courtesy of Coachlite Cutters Barber Shop in Portage, a free Meijer gas card thanks to our friends at Liberty Mutual Insurance, and gift card from EPS Security. Free E.S.C.A.P.E. T-shirts and baseball caps were also very popular for Trenten and his family!
The E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety Program recognized its one millionth child to learn about fire safety inside the Mobile Training Center in Battle Creek on July 31st.