Nellis prepares for the new school year with safety tips Published Aug. 18, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Michael Charles Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Now is the time to review safety measures as a way to prevent unintended mishaps and injuries as local students gear up for the upcoming school year. According to the Readers Digest, school-age kids are nine times more likely to get an unintentional injury. The National SAFE KIDS Campaign added, school-related accidents topped 2.2 million injuries for children 14 and younger in 2008. Most children at Nellis will be returning to school Aug. 24. It is important for parents to be vigilant of potential safety concerns and educate them about safety practices in and out of school before the school year begins. Below are tips for safety practices provided by SAFE KIDS, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics that may prevent unintentional injuries to children attending school: · If your child is walking, make sure they know the most direct route and walk with somebody they know. · Try and drop your kids off as close to the school as possible when driving. · Teach children to arrive at the bus stop early and never play in the street.. · Remind your children to stay seated at all times and keep their heads and arms inside the bus while riding. · Make sure that your child has a list of emergency contacts at all times and know how to call 911. · Teach children proper playground behavior: no pushing, shoving, or crowding. In the event a dangerous situation is identified on base, contact the 99th Air Base Wing Safety Office at 702-652-7602.
