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For immediate release: October 3, 2006 (06-157)

Contacts:
Mary Borges, Safe Kids Washington 360-236-2861
Deanna Mill, Communications Office 360-236-4022

Children learn pedestrian safety from Safe Kids Washington
International Walk to School Day is October 4th

OLYMPIA ? With school in full swing, it?s a good time to remind parents to teach their children how to be safe when walking to and from school. October 4, 2006 is International Walk to School Day and many children will be outside, learning how to be safe pedestrians.

"Walking is important and a healthy activity but everyone must do their part to keep kids safe. Parents and caregivers should teach children safe behaviors and drivers must be aware of their surroundings," said Mary Borges, Coordinator for Safe Kids Washington.

Pedestrian injury remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 5 to 14. Each year in the United States, more than 630 children are killed and 35,000 treated in emergency rooms as a result of pedestrian injuries. Each year in Washington, an average of 83 children, age 14 and younger, are hospitalized and an average of 10 children are killed in pedestrian and pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes.

To observe International Walk to School Day, Safe Kids Washington will teach children about pedestrian safety in fun ways ? including a poster contest, classroom activities and school assemblies. Volunteers will escort children to and from school and teach them hands-on by demonstrating important safety behaviors:

  • Walk in groups or use the "buddy system."
  • Always avoid strangers.
  • Look left, right and left again before crossing the street.
  • Always cross at a crosswalk or intersection.
  • Obey traffic signals.
  • Children under 10 should be supervised by an adult when around motor vehicles.
  • Make sure drivers see you when they?re backing out of a driveway.
  • Get parents help to determine the safest route.
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    Pedestrian safety tips (http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/emstrauma/injury/) are available on the department?s Injury Prevention Program Web site. The site also has a list of links and locations of activities taking place on International Walk to School Day. Safe Kids Worldwide (www.usa.safekids.org) offers an online copy of new research about reaching children most at-risk of pedestrian injury.

    Safe Kids Washington works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. Safe Kids Washington is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Washington was founded in 1999 and is lead by the Washington State Department of Health.

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