NCSD, NCSO give back-to-school safety reminders | #schoolsaftey

CASPER, Wyo. — The first day of school for Natrona County School District students is Aug. 28. As the summer draws to a close, students, staff and school families across the county are excitedly preparing for the start of a new school year.

As the community prepares to send its children back to school, safety and well-being should be a priority. These safety tips from NCSD and the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office can help ensure a safe, successful and exceptional school year for all.

Know the Signs

Motorists should be aware of school zones and always obey all traffic laws.
Familiarize yourself with important traffic signs, crosswalks and school zones that you may come across not only in your daily commute but throughout your neighborhood and the entire county.
Pay careful attention to school zones, bus stops, stop signs and other important traffic elements in place to keep students safe while walking, riding, busing or biking to and from school.
School Bus Stop Sign Awareness. Red means stop, both flashing lights and/or the stop sign.

Ready, Set, Go! Planning with Purpose

Now is a great time to have proactive conversations with your children regarding their daily walk or ride to and from school and discuss simple safety measures to keep them safe.
Talk to your children about recognizing and obeying traffic signals, signs and pavement markings.
If walking/biking to and from school, remind your children to be aware of their surroundings and to put down distractions such as cellphones, headphones, and so forth.
Always look both ways before crossing the street, and only cross the street using a crosswalk.
Walk and never run across intersections.
Never enter streets from behind parked cars, shrubbery, signs, and so forth, that may block your view or the view motorists have of you.
Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear when biking/riding to and from school.

Digital Safety Reminders

The start of a new school year is an excellent opportunity to open a conversation with your child about being safe online.
The best way to keep your kids safe online is to know who they are talking to. Have an honest, age-appropriate conversation with your kids about online expectations and, most importantly, to tell a parent/trusted adult if they ever encounter an uncomfortable situation online.

“Say NO, GO and TELL” Safety Rule

Familiarize your student with the safety rule, “Say NO, GO and TELL.” If anyone approaches your child, offers them a ride, asks for directions or makes them feel uncomfortable, instruct them to say “NO,” get away from the situation (GO), and TELL a trusted adult. Be sure to discuss with your child who trusted adults may be: parents, teachers, police officers, firefighters, relatives, and so forth.

Be Alert! Never Drive Distracted

Eliminate distractions while driving. Never text and drive, and keep your eyes on the road. Talk with your teen drivers about the critical importance of avoiding distracted driving.