Chief highlights school safety tips

With the school year in full swing, Willoughby Hills Police Chief Matthew Naegele recently highlighted do’s and don’ts in regard to school safety.

“It’s time to talk to elementary, middle and high schoolers about back to school safety, including how to stay safe before, during and after school,” Naegele said.

Safety tips for getting to school include staying alert at the bus stop and for parents to consider enforcing a “no headphones/devices at the bus stop” policy.

“These distractions keep kids from responding to their surroundings,” Naegele said.

If crossing the street to board the bus, students should wait until the bus driver puts the stop sign out to cars going in the opposite direction. Even when the stop sign is up, students still need to look both ways before crossing.

Once students are on the bus, they should take a seat, face forward and remain seated. Students should not be allowed to talk or bike to school unsupervised before they’re ready. While it’s a great way to increase physical activity and sense of independence, students may be at risk if they don’t remember to obey basic traffic rules.

Parents should have a secondary plan for getting their children to school in case of inclement weather or traffic conditions. Biking in particular is more dangerous on the days that are rainy, icy or windy. Parents should also consider leveraging technology to track their child’s location. If they have a phone, there are apps that allow for tracking their location in real time.

If students are receiving bullying messages online, some of the actions parents may take include blocking the individual onto app, social network or device, as well as print or screenshot messages or interactions so they can be shared as necessary.

Students should also be reminded that everyone faces social issues from time to time and it’s not something they have to deal with alone.

“As a parent, you have resources,” Naegele said. “Reach out to teachers, school administration and child development professionals to tap into expert help for your child’s challenges.”

When students are home alone, they may often assume they have free reign to do what they want. A list of devices or activities that are off-limits when no one’s home should be created. Parents may nix the use of appliances that can present a fire hazard, or they may ask that their children don’t play outside without adults home.

Households with on-thego kids can also benefit from smart locks, video doorbells and security cameras. Smart locks allow for every family member or visitor to have customizable PIN codes to lock and unlock the door.

Parents may use the accompanying smart phone app to see who comes home and when; kids will experience fewer lockouts because they won’t remember to have a key. Video doorbells can send you activity alerts so parents receive updates whenever someone’s on the doorstep.

“Know when your kids get home, if they bring any friends with them or if there’s any suspicious activity in the area,” Naegele said. “It’s important to remember general safety.”