With school right around the corner, the red cross is offering ways to help make sure students stay safe as they head back to school for the upcoming year. If the student rides a bus to school, they should plan to get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive. Students should board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant has instructed them to get on and should only board their bus, never a different one unless instructed by a parent or guardian. Make sure that if you are boarding the bus you never walk behind the bus and stay in clear view of the bus driver.

Cross the street at the corner, obey traffic signals, and stay in the crosswalk.  Students should never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars. If children go to school in a car, they should always wear a seat belt.  Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly and ride in the backseat until they are at least 13. 

If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents need to make sure to use seatbelts and not text or drive. If they ride a bike, make sure they wear a helmet and ride in the same direction as traffic. When children walk to school, they should only cross the street at the intersection and use a route along which the school has placed crossing guards. Parents should walk with young children to school. 

Drivers need to slow down as children head back to school.  Stop for school buses when their lights are flashing.  Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus, or approaching the intersection where a bus is stopped. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety. The Red Cross of Illinois says for more information visit redcross.org.