5 Tips to Teach Your Kids about Walking Safely this International Walk to School Day

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Safe Kids Worldwide, FedEx and volunteers across the country are joining together with local school children to raise awareness about pedestrian safety and to encourage the creation of safe walking environments. More than 250,000 children across the United States will participate in International Walk to School Day on October 7 to learn how to walk safely.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here:  http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7604531-safe-kids-worldwide-back-to-school/

"In the United States, 44 children are hit by a car while walking every day," said Kate Carr, President and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. "By walking together with students on International Walk to School Day, we can show our children how to be smart walkers so they will be safe on the roads."

Safe Kids coalitions across the country are holding events with more than 600 elementary schools for International Walk to School Day. And Safe Kids Worldwide's network of international partners is also using this occasion to teach pedestrian safety. Hear the voices of children around the world explaining why road safety is important.

"International Walk to School Day is a big day at FedEx," said Tabatha Stephens, manager of FedEx Global Charitable Giving. "In hundreds of cities around the world FedEx safety experts, drivers and other volunteers work with Safe Kids to reach and teach tens of thousands of children about road safety. Our team members are passionate about volunteering to help keep kids and communities safe."

Safe Kids and FedEx recommend the following tips to help keep your kids safe while walking.

5 Top Tips for Kids

1. Look left, right and left again when crossing the street. And continue looking until safely across.
2. If you are using a cell phone, head phones or a game, remember: Devices down when you cross the street.
3. It's always best to walk on sidewalks or paths, and cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
4. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
5. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Be especially careful in parking lots or when crossing driveways.

5 Top Tips for Parents

1. Talk to your kids about how to be safe while walking. Remind them to look left, right and left again when crossing the street, to walk on sidewalks or paths, and to cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
2. Teach kids at an early age to put down their devices. And set a good example by putting your devices down when you are driving or walking around cars.
3. Every child is different, but developmentally, it can be hard for kids to judge speed and distance of cars until age 10. So children under 10 need to cross the street with an adult.
4. Remind kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street and to watch out for cars that are turning or backing up.
5. When driving, be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and school zones and be on the lookout for bikers, walkers or runners who may be distracted or may step into the street unexpectedly.

About Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization working to prevent childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Throughout the world, almost one million children die of an injury each year, and almost every one of these tragedies is preventable. Safe Kids works with an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions in the U.S. and with partners in more than 25 countries to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more. Since 1988, Safe Kids has helped reduce the U.S. childhood death rate from unintentional injury by 60 percent. Working together, we can do much more for kids everywhere. Join our effort at safekids.org.

About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $48 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 325,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com. 

SOURCE Safe Kids Worldwide

Related Links

http://www.safekids.org