Back-to-school planning needs to include safety

As families are preparing for students heading back to the classroom, ReadyWisconsin is encouraging parents to add safety to their back-to-school planning.

“It’s important to prioritize safety, as we transition from summer break to the classroom,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management administrator Greg Engle. “The preparation everyone takes before classes begin, ensures everyone has a safe and memorable school year.”

ReadyWisconsin encourages families to take the following steps with their students, to help give them the tools needed for the new school year:

• Create an emergency communications plan, which lists the phone numbers of parents, along with members of a student’s extended family or close friends, to serve as back-up contacts. Make sure a copy of that plan is available at school and in the student’s backpack.

• If cell phones are allowed at school, program them with emergency contact numbers.

• Review safety information shared by the school, including school bus safety, evacuation procedures, and how students will be reunited with families if there was to be an emergency or other incident during the school day.

• Talk to the child’s teacher about participating in ReadyWisconsin’s Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP) program. This free curriculum for fourth and fifth-grade classrooms helps teach students about being ready for disasters.

• If there’s a student heading off to college, consider picking up an emergency kit for their vehicle, and dorm room or apartment. Vehicle kits should include items like a cell phone charger, snacks, blankets and jumper cables. For home kits, add items like non-perishable foods, a flashlight, portable radio and extra batteries.

Back-to-school safety is not just for those returning to the classroom. It is also important for drivers to use extra caution. Wisconsin law requires drivers to use extra caution around school buses.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, people driving should stop at least 20 feet away from a bus, when red warning lights are flashing – the only exception is if traveling on the other side of a divided road; slow down when amber lights are flashing, which signal the bus is about to stop and red lights will soon be activated (drivers can pass a bus with amber lights activated but should do so cautiously); and always follow directions from school crossing guards.

Find additional tips for talking about disaster and emergency safety with kids, at readywisconsin.wi.gov.