5 lifesaving back to school train safety tips
It's only a matter of days until the kids go back to school. If you're a parent, right now you're busy putting the kids back on their usual schedules, rounding up school supplies and preparing for the busy fall ahead. With all this organization going on, now is a great time for a train safety refresher. Before the kids get out and about travelling to and from school, review with them the tips that will keep them safe and alive around train tracks.
Back to school train safety tips
- Various rail safety signs and devices are present around railway property. Become familiar with these indicators and make sure your kids recognize them and know their meaning.
- Ensure that your kids know to only cross train tracks at designated level crossings. This rule applies whether they're walking, riding a bike or skateboarding.
- Railway property is private property. Being on railway property for any reason at all is considered trespassing - it's illegal and can prove deadly. Please emphasize this point with teens - make sure they know that railway tracks are never the place for a shortcut.
- Being distracted around train tracks is a good way to get killed. Stress to your kids the importance of taking headphones off when they're around the tracks. Remind them of the dangers of texting or chatting on their cellphones around trains. Three words to remember: look, listen, live!
- Always look both ways before you cross railway tracks. Do not proceed across until you are certain that a train is not coming from either direction. Remember, any time is train time and two tracks can mean more than one train.
By making sure your kids know these five main tips for staying safe around train tracks, you're ensuring they come home from school every day alive.
For more lifesaving tips, check out Operation Lifesaver Canada's train safety resources.
Here's a poster from Operation Lifesaver in the U.S. that serves as a good reminder of the dangers of headphones and railway tracks.