All Children's Hospital and Suncoast Safe Kids Present: Walk This Way

The work of Florida Suncoast Safe Kids, led by All Children’s Hospital, is making a difference to reduce the number of child pedestrian deaths and injuries in our community. Our continued work can only increase the safety of our children, as pedestrian safety remains a critical issue:

• National data shows that child pedestrian injury remains the number two cause of accidental death among children ages 5 to 14 in the U.S.
• Walking is an important and healthy activity but everyone needs to do their part to keep kids safe.
• Parents and caregivers need to teach children safe behaviors such as looking left, right and left again before crossing the street, always crossing at a crosswalk or intersection and obeying traffic signals.
• Drivers must be aware of their surroundings and pedestrians and should follow all road regulations, especially in school zones.

Parents can help their children by sharing these pedestrian rules with them:

1. Cross the street at the corner or at a crosswalk if there is one, and obey all traffic signals.
2. Walk on a sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the street, facing oncoming traffic.
3. Walk with an adult until you are at least 10 years old.
4. Only cross in front of a school bus when the driver says it is safe. Do not cross behind the bus or where the driver can’t see you.
5. Hold an adult’s hand when you cross the street. Look left, right and left again before you cross and keep looking both ways until you reach the other side.
6. If you walk when it is dark, wear light-colored clothing or clothing with reflective material so drivers can see you. A flashlight is also a good idea.
7. If a toy or pet goes out into the street, ask an adult for help getting it back.
8. When you are outside playing, play in a backyard or playground away from the street or parking lots.

This year marks the ninth year that Safe Kids and FedEx have teamed up for the Walk This Way program. Walk this Way is a grassroots pedestrian safety initiative in more than 600 schools nationwide, and many schools throughout the Tampa Bay area.  This year, 158 Safe Kids coalitions across the country held more than 600 local events at elementary schools to teach children how to walk safely and to spotlight a particular pedestrian danger or issue in each community.

If you would like more information about how you and your school can participate in next year's event, please contact the Florida Suncoast Safe Kids Coalition, at 800-756-SAFE.