Sometimes whether you like it or not, your small child has to make use of the school bus as a means of transport from day one. As a parent, you worry about this.
You worry that as your child disappears through the doors of the yellow school bus, they will come up against dangers. There’s always a bully on a bus and then there are other issues around safety. What if your child is injured on the school bus?
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The ‘danger zone’ of the bus
Millions of school kids ride the school bus every day and accidents are unfortunately inevitable, with thousands of these children being treated for injuries connected to these school buses.
Thankfully, because of modern bus design, most injuries are minor though there are those more serious accidents when children are killed, even while getting on and off a bus.
They are injured in what is known as the ‘danger zone’ – 10 feet in front of the bus, behind it and to the sides of it. Kids are either struck by the bus or by passing vehicles.
Safety measures in place
Bus companies have added cameras and other safety features to school buses and parents are also expected to educate their kids on bus safety. Instead of seat belts, the seats are now designed in such a way that they absorb the force in a crash, protecting the children.
It is believed that there are a number of drawbacks to seat belts on large buses carrying kids and they are only effective when they are actually used. These bus seats are thought to be a better option and they are sturdier and the metal surfaces are covered with padding to absorb energy in a smash.
The seats in the newer buses are also positioned closer together, limiting the distance a child is thrown around during a crash.
A few safety tips
Parents should see to it that smaller children always get to the bus stop a few minutes early to ensure they are standing in the right spot. Kids shouldn’t be hurtling along the road trying to get to the bus stop on time.
As a child boards the bus, they should only do so when the bus is perfectly still and then they should use the boarding rails to get onto the bus. Teach your children that if they have to cross the street in front of the bus, they should always keep to the pavement until they are well ahead of the bus and only then should they cross the street where the bus driver can see them.
For smaller children, if at all possible, ensure that at least one parent is there to supervise a child getting on and off the school bus. Teach your child to sit quietly on the bus once it is in motion and not to be jumping around and shouting while in transport.