Police guidelines as schools re-open

By Drone Writer

The Uganda police Force has released guidelines as schools reopen for first term 2023

The guidelines were released and signed by police spokesperson Fred Enanga.

• All schools are reminded to review their security emergency preparations, supervision and other school safety fundamentals.

This includes the school visitor procedures and how access to school buildings is done in a high priority area.

• We recommend that all children are examined upon their return to school for any signs of child abuse during their holiday. Awareness of allergies.
• When transporting children to school, ensure you walk with them to teach them safe habits around drop zones or in the classrooms. For the boarding schools, establish contacts to monitor the safe arrival and presence of the children at school.

Children transported on motorcycles are required to wear helmets, since 80% of all head and brain injuries arise out of failure to use helmets.

• Ensure your child knows your mobile number or emergency police numbers 999/112. Learn to set up GPS tracking devices on your child’s mobile phone or other items.
• Avoid use of shortcuts that puts the child in a vulnerable situation.
• Watch out for stalkers on foot, motorcycle or motor vehicles.
• Teach your children how to avoid talking to strangers and to never accept lifts from them or someone not approved by their parents.

The same applies to any gifts or food from an adult.

• Help your child memorise contact information. Ensure that young children know their full name, address, home phone number and how to use a phone.

The school should have a record of emergency contact details that includes office phone, cell phone, home phone, etc. Make sure the child knows which adult to contact in case of an emergency.

In case the school is taking the children on a field trip, know where they’re going and who will be chaperoning the trip

• Use indicators instead of names while labeling

Be careful when writing names on a child’s possessions for the purpose of identification. If confronted by an abductor, this may put them on a first-name basis with the child. Try to place a distinct label, like red stars or bright green stickers, instead of names

• Memorize routes and landmarks

Show the child landmarks and safe areas between school and home, so that they have somewhere to run to in case of emergencies. Train the children to use the main roads and avoid shortcuts and isolated areas. In case they use the bus, make sure they know which one to use.

Bicycle Safety Tips/guidelines

• Make sure your child has the skills to ride a bike safely, such as riding in a straight line and signaling to vehicles when turning.
• Choose the safest route to bike to school, one with less traffic and slower speeds. Use sidewalks unless prohibited by local laws or bike paths if they are available.
• Make sure your cyclists understand traffic safety rules, such as riding in the same direction as traffic and stopping at all stop signs and signals.
• Explain the importance of wearing a bike helmet to your child. They’re critical to minimizing injury in case of a crash. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, wearing a helmet can reduce the odds of head injury by half.