By Stephanie Dunn Ashley
Once again, we have reached the time of year where my motherly eyes begin to get misty as I drive my daughters back to college to start a new school year. As I am sure many of you understand, it is incredible to watch our children grow into talented and compassionate adults. This year, I cannot express how proud I am to see my two girls organizing blood drives with their sorority — actions that work directly to help combat an emergency shortfall in blood products that is in part due to young people donating blood at the lowest rates we have seen in two decades.
Even as my children are increasingly independent, I still worry about their safety — just as I did when they were little. So, as we get ready for school to start back up this September, I wanted to take a moment to share some safety tips for both parents and non-parents to help make sure our next generation of leaders can grow into the wonderful people that we all know they can be.
For first-time and younger students, make sure your kids know the basics: their phone number, address, how to get in touch with you at work, how to contact another trusted adult, and how to dial 911. You also want to make sure they understand not to talk to strangers and to not accept rides from people they don’t know. Earlier this summer, we had another wonderful session of Safety Town for rising kindergarten students in Greenwich. If you aren’t familiar with Safety Town, it is a weeklong ‘camp’ where children get to meet first responders and learn about how to be safe in their neighborhood.
You also want to remind kids to be careful while they go to and from school. If they walk, be sure to remind them to always walk on the sidewalk (or facing traffic if no sidewalk is available) and to look both ways (left, right, and left again) before crossing the street. If they take the bus, help them get to the bus stop early and to stay in clear view of the bus driver — never walk behind the bus! If they ride their bike, they should always wear a helmet (as should we all) and ride in the same direction that traffic is going.
If you drive your kids to school, be sure to use a car seat or booster seat until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4’9”). Remember that no matter how much they might beg to sit up front, kids should ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old. If you have a teenager who drives themselves to school, be sure to remind them to use seat belts — and to make sure their passengers are wearing seat belts too — and to not text or call while driving. Drivers should also avoid eating or drinking while driving — no matter how rushed the morning might be.
For everyone, even if you don’t have kids, make sure you are being extra careful on the roads. Yellow flashing lights on a bus indicate they are getting ready to stop — so you should slow down and be prepared to stop too. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign indicate the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off. The law requires drivers to 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 highways. If there is a physical barrier, such as a grassy median, guide rail, or concrete median barrier — then motorists in the opposing direction may proceed without stopping.
One of the joys in life is getting to watch young people grow up, and we can all do our part to help keep kids safe in our community. I hope everyone has a good end to their summer, and a great start to the school year!
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.
