As I get ready to drive my daughters back to college, I am reflecting on how quickly they grow up. It seems like only yesterday that my husband and I were taking them to kindergarten for their very first day. Back then, I worried whether they would be okay without me, but I knew they were going to have a wonderful time meeting new friends and starting this important chapter of their lives. Now, I still worry, as a mother’s job is never done – and I make sure to help them be ready for any emergencies they may face.
Like me, both of my daughters have completed CPR/AED and First Aid training. At the American Red Cross, the class is just a few hours long, but the ability to be prepared to help in case of an emergency is priceless. This is an important skill set as your child grows older and is more often out on their own. You can find a class near you at redcross.org/classes.
My girls also have a first aid kit among their dorm room supplies. If a first aid kit is not on your back-to-school supply list, I encourage you to add it on. A simple first aid kit should include items like assorted sizes of bandages, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, hydrocortisone ointment, a cold compress, nonlatex gloves, a thermometer, tweezers, and allergy tablets. Be sure to also include any personal items such as prescribed medications, emergency phone numbers, or other items your health-care provider may suggest. Remember to check the kit regularly, especially for expiration dates, and replace any used or out-of-date contents.
When I drop them off at their school, we will be sure to check for the location of the smoke alarms and emergency exits, so the girls know how to get out quickly in case of an emergency. You should check your smoke alarms at home monthly and practice your escape plan with your children. They should know the sound of the smoke alarm, how to escape in less than two minutes, and where to meet outside of the home.
At many schools, students also practice how to shelter in place or exit their classrooms safely. Learn about your school’s emergency plan, and make sure the school nurse and main office have your child’s up-to-date emergency contact information. It is also important to ensure your scholars know your phone number, home address, how to call 9-1-1, and what information to share. This is a lesson during our annual Safety Town program in June, and I am always so proud to watch the rising kindergarteners learn this valuable information.
Our schools are a big part of our community’s fabric, so even if you do not have kids or if your kids are grown and flown, you should still get ready for back-to-school season. Stay alert for children walking or riding their bikes to school, especially at crosswalks. Our crossing guards are there to help keep everyone safe and we thank them for their service.
Please make sure you slow down when behind the wheel and stop for school buses. The yellow flashing lights on a bus indicate that it is about to stop, and the red flashing lights (along with the extended stop sign) indicate that children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting a bus, or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped — including on two- and four-lane roads and highways where there is no physical barrier present (like a raised median) — and must wait until the stop arm is withdrawn and all children have reached a place of safety.
I am excited about the start of the new school year and invite you to take some time to make sure you and your family are ready for the season. You can find more tips at If you need some tips, visit redcross.org/prepare. Take it from a mother sending her kids off to college, they certainly do grow up fast — and that is a good thing – but I will still miss them!
Stephanie Dunn Ashley, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross, Metro New York North Chapter.
Stephanie has worked and volunteered in the nonprofit sector in Greenwich for over twenty years. Her current role as CEO of the MNYN chapter of the American Red Cross began in March 2020. Stephanie overseas Westchester and Rockland Counties in New York, the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, and Greenwich, Connecticut for all lines of service of the Red Cross. From 2007-2020 Stephanie was Director of Fundraising Special Events for Greenwich Hospital where she was the leader of the fundraising team that planned and executed over fifty galas, major fundraisers, cultivation events, and community events resulting in needed funds for the hospital. Previously, Stephanie worked at Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, where she headed up alumnae advancement within the development office. Stephanie is also a volunteer EMT with Greenwich EMS and President of the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol.
