As the snow begins to melt and the weather gets warmer, more people will head outdoors. You will notice that the local schools are more populated in the afternoons. Parents and teachers bring the children outdoors to burn off energy built over a long winter season. Now is the time to plan for outdoor safety and to equip these children with the appropriate protective gear.

School crossing guards

Being a safety member is an exciting title for a child. It means that they are responsible and trusted by the school to help protect others. While some safety members will monitor the school hallways and classrooms, others will ensure students are safely crossing the roads and following the street signals. Because these children are near traffic at one of the busiest times of the day, it is important that they are well seen. Purchasing reflective button up shirts can serve the purpose of a uniform, as well as a protective accessory. Make sure you also have high vis hoodies for colder mornings.

School track team

Students often take advantage of the communities and roads around the school to train for track. While many will run in groups, some will decide to work on their time alone. It can be difficult to require students to remain in groups. Additionally, even groups can be at risk when crossing busy streets. Incorporate reflective button up shirts into the track uniform. There are good statistics surrounding reflective button up shirts in employment settings. In fact, according to the Institute for Work and Health in Canada, a new employee in their first month at work has more than three times the risk for a lost time injury than others. Much of this is due to a lack of awareness around safety equipment.

Team sport athletes

Many team sports including basketball, football, and soccer practice into the evening hours. The sun also sets earlier in the winter months and it will still be a couple of months until it stays out until late in the evening. Many of these students practice on outdoor fields. They can be hard to see if their uniforms or exercise attire is dark. Make sure each of these students has access to fluorescent vests or high vis pants. This will also improve the safety of their walk home. A great way to encourage students to wear these items is to create a custom reflective vest that is both safe and includes logos of the team or school.

Students walking home

Students that live nearby the school tend to walk to and home from school. While school hours tend to follow the daylight schedule, there are times that these students are not easy to see. Early mornings can still be too dark for clear visibility. Especially rainy or dark afternoons can also reduce visibility. While a school cannot dictate what its students wear throughout the day, they can include reflective button up shirts in their school attire. Many students will purchase these black safety vests and reflective attire to support the school and the reflective aspect is just a bonus.

Almost one third of nonfatal work injuries in 2013 that required time away were suffered by employees with less than one year of service. When safety is not a priority in the workplace or educational setting, the employees and students suffer. You can increase the safety of your students by designing school support attire that is made with easy to see colors and includes reflective high vis materials.