Last night I was driving home and saw a sign that said, “Be careful out there. There are kids under those backpacks.” Instinctively, I laughed. Then I thought, “That’s true!” That simple sign encouraging drivers to be aware as school begins got me thinking- not only can drivers think about safety, but so can students and their parents! But with cell phones, lap tops and stylish new clothes competing as the highest priority on students’ back to school shopping lists, it’s hard to see where safety fits in. So…here are some fun ways to keep back-to-school safety a priority this fall.

 

Parents, you jam pack your student’s backpack with those perfect new crayons and enough loose-leaf paper to last a lifetime. Why not throw a surprise or two in your child’s backpack like a package of fun bacon or cupcake band-aids? No, they don’t double as an afternoon snack, but they do make your average boo-boo look pretty cool (There are plenty of places to locate fun band-aids according to a quick Google search).

 

Sending your kids off to college? We’ve all seen the picture - the car has been packed better than a professional game of Tetris, and now you have nowhere to put an emergency preparedness kit. So why not replace your student’s boring futon with one of these backpack couches? With all those pockets and storage space, your student will have the perfect place to store all of those emergency preparedness supplies.

 

You could, of course, stick with more traditional items such as an LED glowstick. It’s an emergency flasher, flashlight and emergency whistle all-in-one, perfect for students of all ages. Or go “old school” with a styling vintage first aid kit, pocket size for the front pouch of your backpack or full size for the dorm room. And to top it all off, we’re offering our standard Student Emergency Pack at 20% off if purchased by September 30^th. See, told you safety could be cool!!

 

Now, time for the POP QUIZ! Besides drivers, parents and students, there is one more group of people who should be thinking about your students’ safety. Give up? Your child’s school! Have you ever thought: If there was an emergency at your child’s school how would you find out what’s going on and what, if anything, should you do? How many teachers and staff members know CPR and first aid? Are there first aid supplies in your child’s classroom? Does your child’s school have intruder drills?

 

It’s a lot to think about, but knowing these answers is the ultimate way to keep your kids safe when it’s time to head back-to school. So that’s your homework for tonight: find out how prepared your child’s school is to handle emergency situations …and trust me, this is one assignment your dog won’t even try to eatJ  

 

Lindsey

 

P.S. And if you want to help ensure your child’s school is prepared for emergency situations, check out the Red Cross Ready Rating™ Program.