Safe Walking For Local Kids -- 10.3.2012
COLUMBUS PUBLIC HEALTH – Media Advisory
For Wednesday, October 3, 2012
SAFE KIDS PROMOTES SAFE WALKING FOR LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN
More than 1000 Schools Nationwide will Participate in Safe Kids Sponsored Walk to School Day Events
WHO
Columbus Public Health; Safe Kids Central Ohio; FedEx Manager, Terrence Smith; Highland Elementary School; Dr. Teresa Long, Columbus Public Health Commissioner; Columbus Division of Police; Columbus Division of Fire; and Community Volunteers
WHAT
Community leaders from Columbus Public Health, Safety Zone, Columbus Division of Police, Columbus Division of Fire and members of the community will walk with children at Highland Elementary School to advocate for safer walking environments for children this afternoon - International Walk to School Day. Volunteers will walk after school with students to identify unsafe intersections, streets needing sidewalks, and dangerous areas where pedestrians have either been hit or nearly injured by a motor vehicle.
WHEN
2:45 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2012
WHERE
Highland Elementary School
40 S. Highland Avenue
Columbus, OH 43223
WHY
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children ages 3 to 14 worldwide. While the number of child pedestrians injured in traffic crashes is decreasing in the United States, there are still a staggering number of children hit by cars. More than 61 children are injured every day severely enough to seek medical attention and more than 500 children are killed every year. Safe Kids Central Ohio activities are designed to help children walk safely all year round.
Safe Kids Worldwide and program sponsor FedEx created the Safe Kids Walk This Way Program in the United States to teach safe behaviors to motorists and child pedestrians and create safer, more walkable communities. Safe Kids Central Ohio works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Its members include Asian American Community Center, Central Ohio Poison Center, Columbus Division of Fire, Columbus Public Health, Jackson Township Fire Department, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, OSU Medical Center ThinkFirst and others. Safe Kids Central Ohio is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Central Ohio was founded in 1988 and is led by Columbus Public Health. For more information, visit safekids.org or www.safekidscentralohio.org.
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