Bus Stop Safety

Protecting Your Child At School Bus Stops:

• Work with other parents to have children walk to bus stops and wait in groups. Use the "buddy system" whenever possible.
• Create a Safe Walking Plan with your child using the safest and most direct path to the school bus stop.
• Establish "Safe Houses" along the route to the bus stop that your child can go to if approached while waiting at the bus stop.
• Keep an updated color photograph of your child in a packet along with medical and dental records and child's fingerprints.
• Avoid clothing and toys with your child's name on them.

Teach your child to:

• Notify you before leaving for the bus stop.
• Never go into a house unless you have given your child permission to use the house as a "Safe House.
• Tell you if they feel scared, uncomfortable or confused about waiting for the school bus.
• Tell the school bus driver if they are approached while waiting at the bus stop.
• Tell the administrator at the bus loop if they are approached while waiting at the bus stop.
• That NOISE is his/her best defense-yell, scream, shout, scatter books and belonging if they are being forced into a car.
• Move away from any vehicle that pulls up to the bus stop.
• Never accept a ride to school if they are waiting at the bus stop.
• Follow the Safe Walking Plan and never use shortcuts through empty parks, alleys, fields, etc.
• Run home or to the Safe House if you are approached by an individual. Begin to yell "fire, fire" and keep running home. 

The best protection for a child at a school bus stop is a vigilant parent.

          In toady's world of dual working families, a parent waiting at the bus stop with a child is not always possible.

          Each year in the United States, between 1.3 and 1.8 million children are reported missing. These children may be kidnapped, lost, or runaways.

          Some children are taken by non-custodial parent's. Still, other children disappear without any reason.