Moving Kids Safely this Summer

School’s out and vacation plans are being made, and kids will be moving about with parents and care givers. This is a good time to review safety steps. Remember that kids are fragile, and proper safety precautions need to be taken. Statistical information from 2000, the most current year, tells us that more than 390,000 children under age 16 were injured and at least another 3,300 were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. An estimated 200 lives could have been saved had children been properly secured in child safety seats. More than one-third of the bicyclists killed were ages 10 through 18, and 90 children age 18 and under were killed and an estimated 1,000 injured at railroad crossings. It should also be noted that life jackets would have saved the lives of approximately three dozen children who died from recreational boat drownings.

To make summer time a safer time, follow the top ten simple safety steps for kids on the move:

  1. Safety belts should be always buckled, whether a child is in a motor vehicle or on an airplane.
  2. Young kids should always be properly secured in child safety seats.
  3. Kids on bikes should always wear helmets.
  4. Kids should stop at the curb, look left, right, and left again before crossing the road. At intersections, they should pay special attention to turning vehicles.
  5. Kids should never play on or near railroad tracks.
  6. Kids should always wear life jackets when boating or around water.
  7. Kids should always be visible when walking or biking. They should wear light, brightly-colored clothing. At night, they should wear markers that reflect light.
  8. When riding on an escalator, kids should stand facing forward, always hold the handrail, and never touch the sides or sit on the stairs.
  9. No one, especially a kid, should ever ride in the cargo area of a pickup truck.
  10. Kids should never play near a subway platform edge or by the curb at a bus stop.

Many tragedies can be avoided if kids and their parents observe safety measures. Teach children safety: make the odds swing in their favor, and give parents some peace of mind.

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Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Last updated: 26 July, 2010

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