Magen David Adom Issues Safety Guidelines for Children Returning to School
Ahead of the new school year starting next week, Magen David Adom (MDA) has released detailed safety instructions for parents, children, and drivers to prevent accidents and ensure children’s safe return home. The guidelines emphasize that children under nine should be accompanied by an adult and should not cross streets alone. Parents are urged to practice safe routes with their children, use designated crosswalks, and drop off children only at authorized locations.
Drivers near schools, kindergartens, community centers, and bus stops are advised to exercise heightened caution, slow down near crosswalks, and stop when children intend to cross. MDA also highlights the serious danger of leaving children unattended in vehicles, recommending parents place an essential item like a bag or phone next to the child’s car seat to prompt checking the back seat before exiting. Bus drivers must scan their vehicles after trips to ensure no child is left behind.
Additional safety tips include ensuring children stay hydrated and protected from sun exposure during the school day. Parents of allergic children should ensure their kids carry an epinephrine injector as prescribed. MDA stresses safe cycling practices, including mandatory helmet use and restricting electric bikes and scooters to those aged 16 or older with a valid driver’s license or theory test passed, per Ministry of Transport rules.
MDA recommends installing the “My MDA” app on children’s phones to quickly summon help with location tracking. In emergencies involving locked vehicles, immediate contact with MDA via phone or app is crucial. MDA’s dedicated school emergency center is staffed with specially trained paramedics ready to provide medical assistance across thousands of schools nationwide.
MDA CEO Eli Bin stated, “Summer vacation is over, but safety rules must continue to be followed. Our children’s safety is paramount, and we must all act to ensure they return home safely from school. I call on parents, educators, and students to refresh their knowledge of road safety and Home Front Command guidelines to prevent tragedies.” MDA wishes all Israeli students a successful, productive, and safe school year.
