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School Bus Safety Starts At Home; Rural/Metro Provides Tips to Keep Children Safe

Posted on: Friday, 4 September 2009, 09:00 CDT

BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- As thousands of students across Western New York head back to the classroom, parents can prepare to send their children back to school safely.

Buffalo-based Rural/Metro Medical Services is providing parents with a list of tips to keep children safe on the school bus.

"Ensuring safety is our top priority -- both on and off the bus," said Rural/Metro General Manager Adin Bradley. "We want to provide parents with these important safety tips so they're able to remind their children what and what not to do on the way to and from school."

Tips from Rural/Metro and the National Highway Safety Administration:

AT THE BUS STOP:

• Walk to the bus stop. Never run.
• Wait in a safe place away from the road.
• Never speak to strangers and never get into the car with a stranger.
• Wait for the bus to arrive, watch for red flashing lights and stop sign to be extended. Cross only when traffic has stopped.
  

ON THE BUS:

• Go directly to a seat. Remain seated and facing forward.
• Never throw things on the bus or out the windows.
• Never play with the emergency exits.
• Keep the aisles clear at all times.
• If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.
  

EXITING THE BUS:

• Only get on and off the bus at your designated stop.
• If you leave something on the bus, don't return to get it. The driver may not see you come back and may begin moving the bus.
• If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver before you attempt to pick it up so they know where you are.
  

Last year, Rural/Metro responded to about three school bus incidents per week and more than 100 total bus incidents across Western New York, most of which were minor injuries.

Rural/Metro also works with the Buffalo Public Schools and County of Erie Emergency Services, which provides parents and students with SMART (Specialized Medical Assistance Response Team), a volunteer public health emergency response organization, comprised of a team of doctors licensed to treat injuries at accident sites.

"Parents should know their children are in good hands with Rural/Metro and the SMART team," said Bradley. "Rural/Metro is here to help keep the Western New York community safe."

SOURCE Rural/Metro Medical Services

Source: PR Newswire

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