First Student and the National Safety Council Team Up for Back-to-School Safety

CINCINNATI, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As millions of students head back to school, parents, school districts and local communities have a new resource available to them to help drive home the message of back-to-school safety.  The National Safety Council (NSC) and First Student, Inc., the nation's leader in student transportation, have teamed up to create a safety awareness campaign and back-to-school safety website chock-full of important safety tips and information.

"We are pleased to partner with the National Safety Council on this important back to school program," said Gary Catapano, senior vice president of Safety for First Student.  "School buses are the safest form of transportation on the road today, and it is critical that everyone has access to this important safety information and does their part to keep students safe when traveling to and from school."

The Back-to-School Safety site features checklists and safety precautions parents can review with their children to help keep students safe while walking, riding bikes and taking the bus to and from school.  In addition, key facts about teen driving, playground and backpack safety are included, as is important information on bullying signs and prevention. Featured public service announcements review important safety rules and urge motorists to stay alert and heed the school bus signals when children are getting on and off the school bus.  

School buses use yellow flashing lights to alert motorists that the bus is preparing to stop. Flashing red lights and an extended stop sign means the bus is stopped and students are boarding or leaving the bus. Motorists are required by law to stop until the red lights stop flashing and the stop sign is no longer extended.

First Student is committed to promoting safety as an NSC member organization and the recipient of the 2009 Green Cross for Safety Medal. For more information on back-to-school safety on roadways and at school, visit nsc.org/back2school.

About First Student

First Student, Inc. - a division of Cincinnati, Ohio-based FirstGroup America - is the leader in safe, reliable, sustainable transportation and the largest provider of student transportation services in North America. The company safely transports approximately six million students daily in the U.S. and Canada, using a fleet of approximately 57,400 buses. The safety and security of its passengers is the company's core value, and FirstGroup America was awarded the National Safety Council's 2009 Green Cross for Safety Medal in recognition of its commitment to safety and outstanding safety record. For more information, please visit www.firststudentinc.com or follow the company on Twitter at http://twitter.com/FirstStudentInc.

About the National Safety Council

The National Safety Council (nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

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SOURCE First Student, Inc.