Tips On How To Keep Kids Safe This Summer

By Hoa Quách

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — As kids take their summer breaks from school, officials at Waste Management of Southern California is encouraging residents to ensure they are playing safely outside — especially around service vehicles.

The company also wants to ensure children are aware of its trucks as they travel through neighborhoods.

“We care about the neighborhoods we serve, and ensuring the safety of residents is our top priority,” said Steevie Bereiter, area safety manager for Waste Management of Southern California. “Children are always fascinated by waste and recycling trucks. With more children playing outside during the days and the times when our collection vehicles service neighborhoods, it’s important to be mindful and extra careful.”

• Share the Schedule: Make sure your kids know what days our trucks are in your neighborhood; we want them to be extra careful when playing outside.

• Keep a Safe Distance: Collection trucks stop and back up frequently. Please teach kids not to follow trucks closely on their bike, skateboard or skates.

• Watch Safely: We love our little fans! Let kids know it’s ok to watch our trucks from a safe distance and remind them not to play around or near trash carts/bins.

• Stay Clear: If you have a little helper at home, please don’t let them try to help load garbage onto the truck. Leave it to the local Waste Management team to keep our communities clean.

• Stay Visible: There are several areas where the visibility is restricted for the driver. If you can’t see him/her in the eyes, they most likely can’t see children or pets.