OUT
& ABOUT SAFETY – Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrian Safety
When
should your children learn pedestrian safety rules? As soon as they take their first step outdoors. Despite recent declines, pedestrian injury
remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related
death among children ages 5 to 14. A few moments of prevention could mean the
difference between a fun walk outside and a terrible tragedy:
Go for walks with your children. Be a role model. Kids
learn about traffic by watching and doing.
Supervise your children until they show you
they are safe pedestrians.
Teach children the basic rules of
pedestrian safety:
STOP at the curb or edge of the road. NEVER run into a street.
LISTEN and LOOK for traffic to the left, to the right, and to the left again.
(Teach children who don't know left
from right to look "this way," and "that way," and
"this way."). WAIT until
the street is clear. KEEP LOOKING
until you've crossed the street safely.
Remind older children to:
USE sidewalks. KEEP to the left and walk facing traffic where there are no
sidewalks. BE seen at night. Trim
clothing with materials that reflect light. "Retroreflective" tape is
an excellent choice. It's not expensive and available at fabric, sporting
goods, and hardware stores.
If a child is hit by a car:
Stay calm. Keep the child calm.
Call 911 or send a bystander to do so.
Do Not move the child or let the child
move (unless there is risk of more danger). Check for breathing and begin CPR if
needed. CPR class 
http://www.savealifetfd.com/index.html
Stop bleeding. Press down on wounds
with your hand or clothing. (First Aid classes in your community
Cover the child and wait for rescue
personnel to arrive.