BENTONVILLE, Ark. — As students in Arkansas head back to school in the upcoming weeks, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) reminds residents of helpful tips that can keep students safe as they begin the school year.
First day of school photos posted to social media may be great for memories, but BCSO's public information officer Lt. Shannon Jenkins said that too much information could be harmful.
She said the department understands that people want to post pictures of their children, but they should make sure it is done safely.
"What parents don't realize is that when they're taking a picture of their child with a little memory board on it that says their name, their age, their height, hair color, their favorites, what school they go to, teachers, all of that information is being put out on the World Wide Web," Jenkins said.
Jenkins said information in the background of photos also has identifiable qualities that could be harmful.
"We see a lot of school pictures where buses are picking up the kids, they're getting on the buses, but what they don't realize is there's a cross street on there that says exactly where your child is every day, this is the time that they are there," Jenkins said. "That's what predators prey on."
In addition to online safety, Jenkins said transportation safety is something students should be reminded of.
She said students walking or biking to school early in the morning, or leaving after it gets dark, should wear bright and reflective gear. Learning emergency contact information, addresses, and school information are all tips that Jenkins said are helpful. She added traveling in numbers is safer as well.
"One of the things that we like to encourage is that children do these in groups, that they're never alone," Jenkins said. "They've always got backup with them, built-in backup if they are riding their bike or walking to school."
For those driving in school zones, Jenkins said residents should follow indicator lights and stop signs on buses. She said as the new school year kicks off, law enforcement officers will be patrolling school zones.
In the days leading up to the first day of school, Jenkins said parents should begin having conversations with their children to prepare.
"Just having conversations with your children about their surroundings as well the cars that are around them, other people walking," Jenkins said. "And also certainly not talking to strangers, not talking to people that they don't know, work on a backup plan with your children if something does come up that might be concerning your children."
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