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Keeping safe in the school holidays
Every year teachers dismiss their classes for the long-awaited summer holidays, a time when they're likely to have lots of fun — and get into lots of scrapes! Some hazards are a potential risk for children at any time of year, but that risk is likely to increase when there are many hours to be filled, without the safety and discipline that school brings. Why not focus on some of these hazards in class? That way, perhaps more children will stay safe this summer.
Sun safety
Students may not be fully aware of the consequences of sunburn. Resources on skin cancer are available from Cancer Research UK.
Water safety
Water is great fun, but can be very dangerous. Most young people drown when swimming when and where they shouldn't: in unsupervised lakes, rivers and canals, when warning flags are flying, or after drinking alcohol. See the 'Shorething' section of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) website, which offers resources for children and young people, and recommendations from the Royal Life Saving Society.
Road safety
Students may spend more time on roads during the holidays: whether walking, cycling, or in cars. Make sure they know what's involved if they're intending to learn to drive or ride a moped. A cycle helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 per cent: how much do your students know about safe cycling? The Department for Transport provides lesson plans and support material on all aspects of road safety, including for pedestrians and passengers.
Play safe
Most sports injuries happen in informal situations such as street football games, or because young people don't have the right protective gear. Make sure your pupils know the score. Accidents also happen when young people are tempted to play in dangerous areas, such as railways and quarries.
Substances
The extra leisure time the holidays bring may also increase opportunities for experimentation. For further support material take a look at the Alcohol Concern fact sheet on young people and alcohol, and the Wrecked website.
Stranger danger
During the holidays children are likely to spend more time unsupervised outside the home or on the internet. Help them to develop strategies for coping safely with potentially risky situations involving strangers.
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Metropolitan Police: street safety
Guidelines for safety on the street and when using public transport and taxis. -
Miss Dorothy
Tips on personal safety on the Internet and on the street. -
IT OK
Advice on Internet and chat room safety. -
TeacherNet: using ICT
Safeguards to help ensure that pupils will not be exposed to unsuitable content or people over the Internet.
Safety at work
A lot of young people find jobs in the holidays and this can be a good way of acquiring valuable work experience. However, many of them end up working illegally or have accidents when working. This may be partly because they are unaware of their rights. Find out more about young people, jobs and the law.
First aid
Would your students know what to do in an emergency? What if they were the first to arrive at the scene of an accident? Get them to brush up on their emergency drill with role plays and games. The first aid area of the BBC health website provides facts, safety tips and an online first aid course. Should your students want to take it further, both the British Red Cross Society and St John Ambulance run training courses.
Emergencies
Meanwhile, prepare for the start of the autumn term by visiting the TeacherNet emergencies area, which provides comprehensive advice on safety within school. Get to grips with personal safety and security issues, including dealing with trespass and assault, check procedures for reporting accidents and consult a range of useful resources including risk assessment tools and guidance on managing crises. This area has an extensive planning section, with information on First aid, and also includes advice on educational visits abroad.
This article was commissioned by TeacherNet's
editorial team, independently of DCSF policy teams.
Last updated: 27 November 2009
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