Make That Bus Ride To School A Safe Trip
With the new school year beginning it’s a good time to review a few safety rules with the kids. The September issue of Child magazine and the National Safe Kids Campaign offer the following tips for the bus trip to school:
* Teach your child to step back from the bus until it’s OK to board. The most dangerous areas are where the buses load and unload.
* Avoid dressing your child in loose-fitting and “baggy clothing” which can get caught in handrails, in swing doors and on seats.
* Have your child cross the street at least 10 feet in front of the bus so that he or she is not in the driver’s blind spot.
* Dress your child in a red or blue raincoat. Yellow ones can blend with the school bus, making it difficult for motorists to see your child.
* Speaking of back to school: According to a recent poll from Maritz Marketing Research, the average American family with two school-age children expects to spend about $787 on back-to-school necessities. Here’s how it breaks down: Clothing (including shoes) $421; school supplies (backpacks, gym uniforms, pens, paper, etc.) $138; extracurricular activities (sports equipment, uniforms, field trips, etc.) $228.
These figures don’t include lunches, purchased at school or packed at home. Almost half of respondents (48 percent) said their children purchase lunch at school. Eighteen percent said their children take lunch to school, while 31 percent said their kids do both.
* Speaking of lunch: Althea Zanecosky, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, offers the following reminders to reduce the risk of harmful bacteria and food poisoning affecting your child’s lunch box:
* Be sure to scrub the lunch box or insulated bag daily using an antibacterial detergent and hot water. Use a diluted bleach solution (1 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart water) for larger messes.
* Send items with high protein content (such as chicken, yogurt, milk) in an insulated bag with an ice pack to keep them cool.
* Remind your children to wash their hands before eating to avoid getting paint or dirt from the morning activities in their food.
* ADHD Hotline: There is much confusion about diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. To combat the confusion, psychiatrists, psychologists, teachers and school nurses will participate in ADHD Experts on Call, a three-day public education telephone campaign about the disorder. The call-in program will take place Sept. 11-13 from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Parents will have the opportunity to talk to one of 30 authorities from around the country. Call (888) ASK-ADHD.