Approximately 20% of children treated at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Trauma Unit every year sustain injuries at school. Although schools are safer than many other places in communities, children still suffer injuries from falls, playground injuries, sports injuries, violence and walking or cycling to and from school.
Take action:
Children are only physical and emotionally ready to cross the road ‘safely’ at the age of eight years – young scholars should therefore not walk to school on their own; the safest route to and from school should be looked for and each parent should accompany the child on that route until he/she is sure that the child knows it; always make sure that your child is visible when walking or cycling to school, especially in winter months when it is still dark when children walk or cycle to school; helmets are compulsory for all cyclists – make sure your child’s helmet fits correctly and that it is always tied securely; set good examples for your kids in traffic situations – children learn best by imitation.