SAFE KIDS WASHOE COUNTY AND FEDEX HOLD EVENT TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT WALKING TO SCHOOL SAFELY
New research on child pedestrian safety to be released at International Walk to School Day press conference

September 29,2005 - Safe Kids Washoe County and FedEx Express volunteers will educate children and parents on their walk to school as part of International Walk to School Day. More than 500 children from Echo Loder Elementary School will participate in the Safe Kids Walk this Way program on October 5, 2005 beginning at 7:30 a.m.

In addition, results of new research by Safe Kids Worldwide on the most dangerous U.S. metropolitan areas for child pedestrians will be announced at the school after class starts. This research was aimed at determining factors common to safer areas and to more dangerous areas, in order to apply that information to cities across the country.

Additional walking stations with volunteers will be at the following intersections:

• Yori and Gentry
• Yori and the playground
• Yori and Linden
• Yori and Grove
• Yori and Apple
• Grove and Wrondel
• Apple between Orange and the Headstart Trailer
• Yori and Margrave

Pedestrian injury remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 5 to 14. Each year, more than 658 children ages 14 and under die nationwide from pedestrian-related injuries.

According to Carol Worthen, principal at Echo Loder, 3 of their students have been injured in the past two years due to pedestrian accidents.”

“Nearly 90% of our students arrive at the school daily walking with their families,” Worthen said. “Safety is an on-going priority at our school for our students.”

Safe Kids Washoe County activities on International Walk to School Day are designed to help educate children and families about the importance of pedestrian safety. Additionally, Safe Kids Washoe County will be donating $1,000 to Echo Loder to support their on-going pedestrian education and safety efforts.

“Safe Kids Washoe County is thrilled to be partnering with Echo Loder to help educate students and their families,” said Melissa Krall, coordinator for Safe Kid Washoe County. “We look forward to working together throughout the school year to keep children safe.” Additional activities and events are planned in the future.

Safe Kids Worldwide is releasing a national ranking of the most dangerous metropolitan areas for child pedestrians on October 5, 2005. In addition to the ranking, Safe Kids will release findings on the characteristics common to the most dangerous areas, as well as those common to the safer areas. For more information or for a copy of the survey, contact Elana Schaffer at 202-662-0608, or visit www.safekids.org.

Safe Kids Washoe County works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. REMSA (Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority) is the lead organization for SAFE KIDS Washoe County, which is a coalition of local agencies including Washoe County Health Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, State of Nevada Injury Prevention, the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, MADD, Kiwanis and many others. Safe Kids Washoe County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury

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