With students in the Yakima School District starting a new school year next Wednesday, August 28th, the Yakima Fire Department (YFD) is encouraging community members to remember back-to-school safety tips.
“The goal is to begin the academic year on a positive note, and safety is the number one priority for all students, parents and the community,” said Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham. “We recognize that this time of year is busy, but we encourage everyone to have safety on the forefront of their minds going into the new school year.”
YFD recommends the following safety tips provided by the National Safety Council (NSC):
- Never walk while texting.
- Never cross the street while using an electronic device.
- Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
- Cross only at crosswalks.
Drivers should be on increased alert when traveling through school zones and should never text and drive. Additionally, YFD reminds drivers:
- Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
- Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.
- Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.
- Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
Call 575-6060 or visit https://yakimafire.com/ for more about the Yakima Fire Department.