WITH students heading back to school this week, NSW Ambulance is reminding motorists to be on the look out for children travelling to and from school.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The warning is particularly timely given this week's inclement weather and the potential for accidents.
In term one last year, paramedics treated 26 children who had been hit by vehicles, with injuries ranging from cuts and grazes to fractures and head wounds.
Taking into account the 23 school days during this period, this amounted to more than one collision a day.
Inspector Giles Buchanan said any collision involving a child and a vehicle was traumatic, not just for the patient, but parents, other children, by-standers and the motorist.
"It is always an emotional scene.
"You're trying to treat the child and you're aware of the parent's distress and also the trauma suffered by other children who may have witnessed the collision.
"The simple message is to obey the school zone restrictions.
"Even if you're outside these areas, be mindful that greater numbers of children will be out, travelling to and from home - and not always adhering to the road rules.
"By following this advice, it could save a child from suffering serious, life-long injuries," he said.
Advice from NSW Ambulance included: adhering to school pick-up and drop-off zones; sticking to the speed limits, as school zones are 40km/hour; and dropping off and picking-up on the same side of the road as school.
If you have to park on the other side, always escort children to and from the school gate and help teach children the importance of crossing the road safely by only using pedestrian crossings, designated crossings and following traffic controllers' instructions.
Most importantly, Inspector Buchanan said to "always be on the look out for the unexpected and never assume a vehicle will see, or stop for, children on a crossing, as many accidents have occurred at pedestrian crossings".