Allstate Community

Pedestrian accident fatalities are on the rise, school crossing guards play a critical role in ensuring child safety. Stationed at busy intersections, crossing guards are the ultimate public safety multitaskers, juggling oncoming traffic and pedestrians with ease. Many crossing guards also keep an eye out for strangers loitering around the school, and help ensure a general safe environment for students.

Crossing guards come from all walks of life, although many are retirees who enjoy the excitement of serving as a part-time guard. If you’re a grandparent, there’s no better way to spend time with your grandkids and get to know their friends than safely guiding them to and from school each day. Spending time outside in the fresh air also makes part-time work as a crossing guard a popular choice, especially in a sunshine state like Florida.

The Duties

Most crossing guards serve two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, depending on the school district’s hours. Guards typically receive compensation for their hard work ($25 to $35 per day, on average), and some may even receive retirement benefits depending on the number of years served.

Crossing guard assignments vary based on the state, but assignments are normally busy intersections. These intersections see at least 40 school pedestrians or more in a two-hour period. Guards need to be in good physical shape, and be capable of standing for up to two hours at a time. Guards wear a reflective vest, carry a stop sign, stand in the middle of the intersection, and safely escort children across the street.

The biggest challenge faced by a crossing guard is the inclement weather. From thunderstorms to snowstorms, crossing guards work in all weather conditions to protect children’s safety. Some even give a hand to stranded motorists, helping to push stalled cars to the nearest gas station. As any crossing guard will tell you, there’s never a dull day on the job.

Making the Grade

Think you’re up for the challenge of serving as a crossing guard? Becoming a crossing guard may require a background investigation, pre-employment drug screening, and the successful completion of a polygraph test, depending on state regulations.

Candidates will also likely need to complete a crossing guard training course, depending on state requirements. For example, Florida residents will need to complete an eight-hour crossing guard and child safety course from the Florida Department of Transportation. This course includes six hours of classroom instruction and two hours of field training. The course is designed to help crossing guards become familiar with standard safety protocol and gain real-world experience. Other states, such as California, provide training through the local police department.

What is the best part of the job? According to Anne, a crossing guard in Palm Beach, it’s receiving a big hug from students at the end of the day. Nothing beats a heartwarming hug as a “thank you” for a job well done.

Hanging up a new, clean calendar is a ritual for many at the beginning of each year and we quickly begin the process of filling in all of those important dates. Along with fun things like birthdays and anniversaries, we start making appointments to have our teeth cleaned, the furnace checked, the oil in our cars changed, or even a yearly checkup with our doctor. Thank goodness for those handy reminders we get in the mail to help us remember to schedule the all-important annual checkups!

While you’re making your list of important things to check on an annual basis, do not forget about your basement. A dry basement is an invaluable asset to your home,  even more important when you have a finished basement. The small cost of maintaining your lower living space is minimal compared to the amount of trouble and heartache you would experience if you had several inches of water suddenly appear downstairs.

What if you  lost power during a storm and you didn’t have your battery backup system checked for a couple years? What if your basement flooded because one of your window well drains was simply clogged with leaves and debris? You can avoid the pain of having to remove water-damaged finished walls and flooring, ruined family photo albums and other family heirlooms by inspecting your basement every year.

There are several ways to keep your basement dry and protected, and although some of these you can do yourself, some are better left to a professional. Contact a professional waterproofing company that can provide you with an inspection program that will help assure your basement stays dry all year round. Here are some of the items a professional company should provide during a complete annual inspection:

• Removal, cleaning and water-testing of storm water sump pump.
• Cleaning of the storm water sump pit.
• Flushing and water-testing of discharge lines and fittings.
• Replacement of battery on the High Water Alarm.
• Inspecting the battery and mechanical operation of your backup pump system.
• Testing your ejector pump.
• Checking for possible yard drainage and downspout extension problems.
• Inspection of window wells and drains for any clogs or leaks.
• Examination of foundation walls for seepage or structural damage.
• A written report of finding and recommendations.

Content and images courtesy of Perma-Seal.

When it comes to pedestrian traffic accidents, there's nothing sunny about living in the Sunshine state. According to a study release by the non-profit group Transportation for America, the top four most dangerous cities for pedestrians are all in Florida. Many pedestrian traffic accidents occur on arterial roads that are specifically designed for speeding traffic— leaving few safety provisions for pedestrians or bicyclists.

The high fatality rates of these cities are directly correlated with poor infrastructure planning, according to Transportation for America,. When these arterial roads were designed, little consideration was given to people who walk to work or walk for exercise.

Americans are increasingly encouraged to walk or bike to work as a way to stay active and go green. Unfortunately, this increase in pedestrian traffic is in direct conflict with the existing infrastructure in many cities—leading to an increase in pedestrian fatalities.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that more than 50,000 pedestrians will be involved in a traffic crash this year. Sadly, over 4,000 pedestrian fatalities will occur.

All too often, negligent drivers are speeding, chatting or texting on their cell phones. And for pedestrians walking on unsafe roads without sidewalks or signal crossings, the risk of being a traffic accident victim greatly increases. While you can't control for inattentive drivers, as a pedestrian, you can make smart choices. Following basic walking safety tips can reduce the likelihood of an accident.

Always use sidewalks or walking paths; if there is no sidewalk, walk FACING traffic and as far to the left of the road as possible.

Cross only at corners using traffic signals and crosswalks; never cross in the middle of the street.

Before crossing the street, make eye contact with a stopped driver; this lets him know you are crossing and lets you know that he's paying attention.

If walking at night, wear reflective gear so drivers can see you.

Is your city safe? According to Transportation for America, these are the 10 most dangerous metropolitan areas in the United States:

1. Orlando/Kissimmee, Florida
2. Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida
3. Jacksonville, Florida
4. Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Pompano, Florida
5. Riverside/San Bernardino/Ontario, California
6. Las Vegas/Paradise, Nevada
7. Memphis, Tennessee
8. Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Arizona
9. Houston/Sugar Land/Baytown, Texas
10. Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas