School Year Safety

Staying safe throughout the school year requires the awareness of students, their parents and drivers on the roads, said Herndon High School Resource Officer Scott Davis.

"Stay on the sidewalk if you're walking," Davis said. He said parents should make sure their children are using sidewalks and crosswalks, and if possible they should be walking in a group or with a friend. Davis also said when walking with friends children should keep from roughhousing so no one gets pushed into a street or driveway.

While it's good to have a cell phone on hand to be able to call for help Davis had warnings about using them as well. He said those walking to school shouldn't be on the phone or they may stop paying attention to their surroundings, and students should also remember they cannot use cell phones in school.

For younger children Davis suggested walking to school with them if parents are able to do so. He said they should be comfortable with their route so they don't get lost.

Parents should make sure they are dropping their children off at designated locations at the school or kiss-and-ride locations, Davis said. He said it can be dangerous for parents to stop while in traffic to let children out of the car and at Herndon High School security officers were directing parents away from doing such.

For children and teens at school, Davis said they should make sure to keep valuable belongings out of sight. He said phones and iPods shouldn't be used during the school day and they are easily and frequently stolen or lost. "That's one of the big ticket items is the cell phones and the iPods," he said.

When it comes to bullying and threats schools have open door policies with administrators and school resource officers, Davis said. He said schools don't take bullying lightly and students shouldn't be afraid of retaliation, which school administrators can stop as long as they are aware of the bullying.

Parents should make sure they know their children's friends and who they spend their time with, Davis said. He said they should also keep tabs on their children's MySpace and Facebook pages and monitor their social networking and online activity, where a lot of peer trouble can start.

If parents are leaving their older children home alone after school they should teach their children safety tips as well, Davis said. He said rules should be set for who is and is not allowed in the house and doors should always be locked. He said it is also a good idea for students to check in with their parents with a phone call when they arrive home after school.

Davis' advice was not only for students and parents. He said drivers must to be more vigilant during the school year when there are more pedestrians on the roads. "If you're driving in a school area be alert," he said. He said drivers should check their mirrors and be extra cautious, since children sometimes dart into the street.