Safety tips can protect students Published Aug. 11, 2011 By Rick Peterson 377th Air base Wing Safety Office Kirtland Air Force Base -- Albuquerque public schools are back in session on August 16. This article will highlight a few safety tips to help you cope with the start of another school year. Health and safety precautions help ensure children arrive safely to their schools and get adjusted to a new school year and that they are physically and mentally ready to take on their new tasks and responsibilities in the classroom or on the athletic fields. When planning a back-to-school checklist, health and safety precautions should be at the top. Bicycle helmets and protective sports gear, updated immunizations and properly fitted backpacks should also be addressed to make a child's transition into a new school year as successful as possible. Safety on the playing field The return to school heralds the star t of fall sports. All sports involve movement and contact . Talk with physicians and coaches before the season starts about precautions to reduce the risk of injury. Physical conditioning is a key component of ever y athlete's safety. At the same time, be sure your child has all necessary protective football gear such as properly fitted helmets and padding. Any back-to-school article would be incomplete if there was no mention of safe driving. Please be aware of school zones, usually indicated by flashing yellow lights and signage. Also be alert for crosswalks and speed limits. Drivers need to slow down in 15 miles-per-hour zones. There have been several incidents regarding pedestrians not being afforded safe crossing. Learn the "flashing signal light system" for school buses. Yellow means the bus is preparing to stop and red light with extended sign means they have stopped to allow children to get off the bus. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn and the bus begins moving forward. People need to be aware of the additional risk children pose when they are in or near the roadway. Children often engage in horseplay and when this occurs near the road it can be especially dangerous. Add to this the fact that more people than ever, children and adults alike are texting and talking on their cell phones. This added distraction makes it even more critical that drivers pay attention to what they and others around them are doing. School safety reminders Plan a walking route to school or the bus stop and walk the route with your child beforehand. When driving your kids, deliver and pick up as close to the school as possible, watch them until they're inside. If your child bikes, make sure they wear an approved helmet. Teach your kids that if they walk or bike that they always obey traffic safety rules If your child rides the bus, remind them to stay seated at all times, no horse play and keep heads and arms inside the bus. Tell your child to get to the bus stop early, stay out of the street, always wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and know and obey the bus safety zone. Be sure your child knows home phone number and address, your work number, the number of another trusted adult and how to call 911 for emergencies. To all drivers: Be extra careful out there all year round but especially at the start of the school year, be vigilant around schools and school buses and protect all children.