This fall, millions of students will return to classrooms across the United States. In preparation, teachers are planning their lessons and parents are making school supply lists. Communities can prepare by making students’ safety the number one priority as they head back to school. Parents, students, educators, and community members can all take action to keep children safe –as they travel to and from school and during the school day.

Get to School Safely

Walking or biking to school is a great way for children to be physically active on a regular basis. But it is important to make safety a priority. Communities can create options for getting around that are inviting and safe for everyone, even students as they head to school. Here’s how:

• Build sidewalks, bicycle paths & pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to and from school
• Reduce speeds in school zones & neighborhoods
• Create a Walking School Bus
• Educate the public on pedestrian & bicycle safety

Play at School Safely

According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity each day. Physical activity can take many forms during the school day- during recess, physical education classes, or after-school sports. Accidents can happen during play, even at school, so it is important to put safety first. These resources teach you how to keep students safe while playing at school:

• Avoid Playground Injuries. Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries. Learn how to stay safe on the playground.
• Know Your Concussion ABCs. A child can knock his/her head and get a concussion in any number of school settings ranging from the classroom, the cafeteria, the football field, and beyond. Heads Up to Schools: Know Your Concussion ABCs helps principals, school nurses, teachers or other school professionals to identify and respond to concussions in an array of school settings.

Want to know more?

Safe Routes to School: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/

Pedestrian Safety: http://www.cdc.gov/features/pedestriansafety/index.html

Safe Youth, Safe Schools: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SafeSchools/