Safe Kids Washoe County and FedEx Express Lead Local Activities on International Walk to School Day
National Drawing Contest Held As Part of Safe Kids Walk This Way Program

MEDIA NOTE: The media is invited to visit Esther Bennett Elementary School, 5900 Sidehill Dr. in Sun Valley at 8:00 a.m., as Safe Kids Washoe County representatives will be speaking to students regarding pedestrian safety. These representatives will also be available for media interviews.

September 27, 2006 - In observance of International Walk to School Day on October 4, Safe Kids Washoe County and FedEx Express employee volunteers will visit two local schools in Sun Valley to teach children about safe pedestrian behavior and to work with these schools and the community to improve the walking environment. More than 1,000 children are scheduled to participate in the event. These children are also participating in a national poster contest to highlight their pedestrian safety knowledge.

Nationwide, pedestrian injuries are the number two cause of accidental 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. According to injury statistics, African American children, male children, children living in high density areas and children residing in low-income households are most at-risk for these types of injuries. New research from Safe Kids Worldwide shows that fear of crime influences these at-risk children’s pedestrian behavior more than fear of injury or injury-related death.

“Parents, caregivers and teachers need to be aware of influencing factors for children when they are walking and address those when teaching them about pedestrians safety,” says Melissa Krall, Safe Kids Washoe County coordinator. “Walking is an important and healthy activity but everyone needs to do their part to keep this activity safe for kids. Parents and caregivers need to teach children safe behaviors and drivers must be aware of their surroundings.”

In Washoe County, there have been multiple pedestrian injuries and fatalities throughout the community. Safe Kids Washoe County has chosen to focus on schools in Sun Valley this year because of unique safety issues like fewer or no neighborhood sidewalks, heavy traffic volumes near the schools and large roadways and intersections for pedestrians to traverse.

Through the year-round Safe Kids Walk This Way program, children learn important safety tips and behaviors for walking safely. This year, as part of the program, children at Esther Bennett and Virginia Palmer Elementary Schools will create posters highlighting pedestrian safety messages. Safe Kids Washoe County will choose 10 winners per school, and those drawings will be featured in the trophy case at the Washoe County District Health Department starting Oct. 12. Safe Kids coalitions across the country will nominate one winning entry to Safe Kids Worldwide, who will choose the national winner and present the entrant and his/her class with t-shirts featuring the entrant’s original design. The winning entrant’s design and his/her local coalition will also be featured on the Walk This Way website.

If you would like more information about what Safe Kids Washoe County is doing to improve child pedestrian safety in our community, please contact Melissa Krall at 775.858.5700, ext. 151. For a copy of new research about reaching children most at-risk of pedestrian injury, visit www.usa.safekids.org.

Safe Kids Washoe County works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. Its members include Blue Moon Promotions, Frontier Financial Credit Union, Western Surgical Group, Nevada Emergency Nurses Association, City of Carson City Fire Department, Country Insurance Agency, Drinkwater Law Offices, Family to Family Connection, HALO CPR, Kidz Safety Education Group, Kiwanis Bike Program, MADD, Nevada Department of Public Safety – Office of Traffic Safety, Nevada State Health Division, Pikkante Skateboards, REMSA, Rotary Club of Reno Sunrise, Saint Mary’s, Washoe County District Health Department, Washoe County School District. Safe Kids Washoe County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Washoe County was founded in 2000 and is lead by REMSA.

Safe Kids Walk This Way, a grassroots pedestrian safety initiative in more than 250 schools nationwide, is made possible through support from program sponsor FedEx Express. Through this year-round program, children learn safe pedestrian behaviors; school communities identify the pedestrian hazards surrounding their schools; and school pedestrian safety committees and task forces lead efforts to educate pedestrians and drivers about safe behaviors, enforce traffic laws and improve environments for child pedestrians.

International Walk to School Day is dedicated to walking to school with a purpose — to promote physical activity, safety, health and concern for the environment. International Walk to School Day is promoted nationally by The Partnership for a Walkable America. www.walktoschool.org.

450 Edison Way Reno, Nevada 89502 (775)858-5700 Fax (775)858-5720