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Press ReleaseAnne Beers Elementary Children and Department of Transportation Join Safe Kids on International Walk to School DayMore than 500,000 Students Across the U.S. to ParticipateOctober 5, 2011
Washington, DC –Ray LaHood, United States Secretary of Transportation, will join Safe Kids, Safe Kids DC, Children’s National Medical Center, volunteers from FedEx, and local school children at Anne Beers Elementary School on Wednesday, October 5, to raise awareness about pedestrian safety on International Walk to School Day. More than 500,000 children across the United States and nearly three million around the world will participate in the annual event to learn about walking safely and to encourage the creation of safe walking environments. “On International Walk to School Day, parents and caregivers both teach and model safe pedestrian behavior,” said Kate Carr, President of Safe Kids Worldwide. “International Walk to School Day is the perfect opportunity for students to learn how to remain injury-free as they walk to and from school.” "As students across the country take to the streets this year for International Walk to School Day, it's critical that parents and caregivers make safety their top priority," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Whether they're walking to school or heading down the block, children need to know to look both ways, use crosswalks, and stay alert to stay safe." In celebration of International Walk to School Day, Safe Kids is hosting a photo contest on Facebook. The winning images will be those that best represent children walking to school safely. The school that submits the winning photo will receive a $5,000 prize and a visit from Sesame Street’s Walkaround Grover. The prize money will be spent to further encourage students to walk to school or for the purchase of educational materials that benefit the general student body. Over a million people worldwide die on roads every year according to the World Health Organization. In May, the United Nations launched the Decade of Action for Road Safety to bring attention to this global epidemic. In the United States (US), according to the National Center for Health Statistics, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children ages 3 to 14. While the number of child pedestrians injured in traffic crashes are decreasing in the U.S., in 2009, more than 13,000 children, ages 14 and under went to the emergency room and 244 children died from pedestrian-related injuries. Locally, Children’s National has documented a similar phenomenon. The hospital recently released statistics indicating a growing trend in children struck and sustaining injuries serious enough to warrant a visit to the Children’s emergency department. In 2010, 48 District children visited the Children’s emergency department as a result of pedestrian struck incidents on school days. Over 200 children were involved in these incidents since 2005. Hospital officials mapped the sites of the occurrences and are committed to proactively addressing the issue. “FedEx has developed highly advanced safe driving practices over the past 35-plus years, but we are committed to doing more. We helped create the Safe Kids Walk This Way program because we are dedicated to improving child pedestrian safety,” said Rose Flenorl, Manager of FedEx Global Citizenship. “Our team members work hand-in-hand with Safe Kids to teach Washington, DC, children how to stay safer when they walk. Safe Kids does a wonderful job in our community and we look forward to supporting them as they make walking safer for everyone.” “In its 15th year, Walk to School Day continues to inspire community-grown events that celebrate health, safety and a sense of community,” said Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School, which serves as the coordinating agency for the event and maintains the Walk to School website, www.walktoschool.org, with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. “Often, this one-day event becomes the catalyst to larger commitments and permanent improvements that make walking and bicycling to school safer transportation options year round.” About Safe Kids Worldwide About FedEx Corp. About Children’s National Medical Center: About The Global Decade of Action for Road Safety About The National Center for Safe Routes to School The National Center is part of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. For more information, visit www.saferoutesinfo.org. Media ContactKatherine Collins October 5, 2011
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