For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 7, 2017

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 203-404-7751
Email: john@jgpr.net

North Haven Fire Department Offers Back to School Safety Tips

NORTH HAVEN — With summer coming to a close and the start of the new school year quickly approaching, Chief Paul Januszewski and the North Haven Fire Department ask that community members review several important safety tips.

All students in the North Haven Public Schools will return to class on Aug. 30.

“Our goal is to begin the academic year on a positive note, and safety is the number one priority for all students, parents and school members,” Chief Januszewski said. “We recognize that this time of year is busy, but we encourage everyone to have safety on the forefront of their minds going into the new school year.”

Given how often students are on their phones texting, browsing the internet or playing games, the North Haven Fire Department recommends that parents talk to their children about following safety tips provided by the National Safety Council (NSC) when headed to and from school:

• Never walk while texting. If you need to send a text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk.
• Never cross the street while using an electronic device.
• Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
• Cross only at crosswalks.

Drivers should be on increased alert when traveling through school zones and should NEVER text and drive. Additionally, the NSC reminds operators that:

• In a school zone, when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
• Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.
• Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.
• Don’t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

To best ensure that children who travel to school by bus get there safely, North Haven Fire advises that students follow these tips from the NSC:

Getting on the bus:

• When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness.

• Line up away from the street as the bus approaches.
• Wait until the bus has stopped and the doors open before approaching.

Behavior on the bus:

• If available, always wear your seat belt.
• Don’t put your head, arms or hands out the window.
• Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat.

Getting off the bus:

• If you have to cross in front of the bus, walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the driver. Make sure the driver can see you too.
• Wait for a signal from the driver before crossing. When the driver signals, look left, right, then left again. Walk across the road and keep an eye out for sudden traffic changes.
• If your vision is blocked, move to an area where you can see other drivers and they can see you.

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