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TOMS RIVER, New Jersey, September 4, 2007--- It is that time of year again.
Schools have opened, and children all around the area are making their way to and from school in a variety of ways. Whether taking the bus, walking or riding in a car, it is important to remember several simple safety precautions to make transportation to and from school a safe experience.
Community Medical Center’s Emergency Department, which earlier this year introduced a pediatric emergency service to provide care via a dedicated team of physicians board certified in pediatrics or emergency medicine and nurses, is dedicated to the safety of the children of its community. It offers the following tips to help keep your child safe throughout the school year.
Riding the Bus
School buses are a safe way to transport children to and from school. In fact, buses are even safer than cars.
But despite this fact, many children are injured and even killed each year as the result of school bus accidents – most of which occur as a student is entering or exiting the bus. Remind your child of these bus safety tips:
- Have a safe place to wait for the bus, away from traffic and out of the street.
- Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.
- Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
- When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk 10 giant steps away from it. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus.
- Stay away from the bus until the driver gives you his/her signal that it is safe to approach.
- Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses, however not all do. Protect yourself and watch out.
Walking and Biking to School
Because of minimal supervision, young pedestrians and bike riders face a wide variety of decision-making situations and dangers while walking or biking to and from school. Here are a few basic safety tips to follow:
- Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard. Never cross the street against a light, even if you don’t see any traffic coming.
- Walk your bike through intersections.
- Always wear a bicycle helmet. Parent should make sure their children’s helmets properly fit their head. It should fit comfortably, but snugly. Parents should only buy helmets that carry a safety sticker indicating it meets all federal safety standards.
- Walk with a buddy.
- Wear reflective materials when walking in the dark.
Riding in a Car
Many parents drive their children to and from school each day. Safety belts are the best way to protect passengers in the event of a crash, as they can lower the risk of injury by 45 percent.
“Buckle up every time you get in the car and don’t leave until all the belts are secure,” says Laurence DesRochers, M.D., FACEP, chairman of Emergency Medicine at Community Medical Center. “Everyone needs to be buckled up properly. This means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats and babies and toddlers in child safety seats.”
Community Medical Center’s Emergency Department is the busiest in New Jersey, treating more than 90,000 patients each year. In 2005, the hospital unveiled the first phase of an ambitious expansion and redesign of its Emergency Department, including the space that now houses eight dedicated pediatric beds and a number of special amenities for children.
To learn more about pediatric emergency services at Community Medical Center, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, call 1-888-SBHS-123.
Contact: Kathleen Horan
Public Relations and Marketing
(732) 557-3909
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