October 5, 2005 Saskatoon – Today is International Walk to School Day. The City of Saskatoon Infrastructure Services and Traffic Safety Committee, and Saskatoon Health Region are once again promoting the “Walk a Child to School” campaign.
The campaign encourages parents to teach their children to practice safe pedestrian skills, and to practice these skills with their children before allowing them to venture out on their own. Very few children under the age of 10 can estimate how fast a car is traveling and whether they have time to cross the street safely. These are skills that a well-informed parent or caregiver can teach a child.
Schools throughout Saskatoon are taking part in International Walk to School Week until October 7th. It is hoped that once parents and caregivers have joined in “Walk a Child to School” that they will continue to walk with children to and from school on a regular basis.
Driving children to school puts them at risk. Hazards are created for children by cars parking along school streets, in school parking lots and neighborhood driveways. Children have to dodge around the extra vehicles in order to enter their school yard.
Unfortunately, approximately 115 children in Canada die each year and 1,800 children are hospitalized due to motor vehicle collisions with child pedestrians, which are the leading cause of childhood injury and death. In Saskatoon last year 10 children suffered from vehicle/pedestrian collision injuries. Twenty years ago, 90% of children walked to school. Today 50% of the student body is frequently driven to and from school by parents. This does not allow children to practice road safety skills.
Some important safety tips to practice with children include:
- Walking the route your child takes to school to identify possible dangers.
- Instructing children to stop at the curb or edge of the street and to look left, right, then left again before crossing.
- Teaching children about the dangers of crossing the street between parked cares, and to never run onto the street.”
"Be sure to read the 'Walk Your Child to School Today' brochure sent home by your child’s school for these and other helpful safety tips," adds Garth Sheard, Public Health Inspector, Saskatoon Health Region. "As well, read the list of 10 good reasons to walk with your child."
- 30 –
For more information contact:
Leanne Nyirfa
Corporate and Public Affairs Adviser
Saskatoon Health Region
(306)
655-3386
Saskatoon Health Region
"Healthiest people, healthiest communities, exceptional service."
Back to 2005 archives |
