Back-to-School Safety

Written by Calgary Police Chief Paul Cook; Photo: Fotolia.com

We all know that back to school can be both exciting and stressful for parents, especially if it’s your child’s first time in school. You may be wondering how to make sure your kids will stay safe in the months and adventures ahead. That’s why I’m offering you some tips to help ease the transition as kids hit the books this Fall.

Teach your child how and when to call 9-1-1.

Make sure your child can remember their full name, age, address and your phone number. It’s a good idea to write this information in their agenda or on a small label inside their backpack.

When crossing the road, practice Point, Pause and Proceed with your children to encourage safe habits. It’s best if your child understands that drivers can make mistakes, and they should always watch for drivers and cross the road safely.

Keep a calendar of your child’s extracurricular activities, field trips and activities. This will help you remember their whereabouts.

Make sure that your child is dressed for the weather - whatever the weather may be! Even though it’s only the beginning of the school year, these early Fall months can be exceptionally cold. Teach your child about the importance of wearing weather-appropriate clothing.

Even though the summer has ended, it’s important to remember the fun doesn’t stop. Keeping children enrolled in recreation programs year-round will help ensure they stay happy, healthy and street smart.

Because recreation is such an important part of safety and education, I am incredibly pleased to announce that YouthLink, our Police Interpretive Centre, is scheduled to reopen this Fall, 2015. Housed in a brand new facility at the Calgary Police Service Westwinds Campus, YouthLink is dedicated to building strong relationships between police and children, as well as teaching young Calgarians how to stay safe. For more information on YouthLink and the opening, visit youthlinkcalgary.com.

I wish your children success in their studies, but most of all, I wish them a safe and fun school year.

Paul Cook is the Chief of Police for the Calgary Police Service.