The American Red Cross offers this checklist you can follow to help make sure your student is safe as they go back to the classroom.

If your student is younger or going to school for the first time, teach them:

• Their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to dial 911.

• Not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.

If your child walks to school, teach them to:

• Walk on the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.

• Stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming.

• Cross the street at the corner, obey traffic signals and stay in the crosswalk.

• Never run out into the street or cross between parked cars.

If your student takes the bus to school, teach them to:

• Get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive.

• Board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant has instructed them to get on. And only board their bus, never an alternate one.

• Stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.

If you drive your child to school, teach them to:

• Always wear a seat belt. Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4’9”), and ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.

If you are considering getting your student a cell phone:

• Download the free Red Cross First Aid and Emergency apps to give them access to first aid tips for common emergencies and real-time weather alerts. Find the apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.