Tips for a safe school year Published July 30, 2012 By 72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The kids are all excited because school is starting (well maybe not as excited as you are). It's time to get the supplies, new clothes, backpacks, etc. Here are some safety tips to go along with all those new things: Clothes: When you buy school clothes, make sure they do not have drawstrings. Drawstrings on clothing can became tangled on playground slides, school bus doors and other objects. Waist and bottom drawstrings have been caught in doors or other car parts resulting in dragging incidents. Backpacks: It is recommended that a child's backpack weigh no more than 10 to 15 percent of his or her body weight. Kids should always use both straps and make sure the straps are tight so the pack fits closely to the body. Now that the supplies and clothes are taken care of, here are some tips for the adults: Driveways: When you are pulling out of your driveway, keep an eye out for children. They can be behind your car before you know it. School Zones: All summer you've been driving at a higher speed around schools. That 25 mph school zone is now in effect, so slow down. Kids: They are excited about seeing all their friends and showing off their clothes and there is a very good chance they are not watching out for vehicles. Slow down if you see kids, even if you are not driving in the school zone. Crossing Guards: A crossing guard is there to keep children safe. If you come up to a set of lights and the light turns green, but the crossing guard still says stop, follow his/her direction and not the traffic light. There might be a child still crossing the street that you can't see. School Buses: When driving your car near a school bus, please note that extra caution is needed. You shouldn't pass a school bus when the signal lights are flashing (as children are often crossing the road at that time), and drive slowly as a general precaution. Follow these tips and everyone should have a safe school year.