Friday, August 29, 2014
London Health Sciences Centre
LHSC’s Trauma Program Urges Extra Vigilance as Children Return to School
The start of the school year is a fun and exciting time for all families that sees normally quiet streets burst to life in the mornings and afternoons.
Last year during September and October London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) treated patients injured in over 78 severe motor vehicle collisions, 15 per cent of those injured were children. “All motorists need to safely share the road with school buses, pedestrians and bicyclists,” says Jane Harrington, injury prevention specialist, LHSC. “It is everyone’s responsibility to keep children safe as they travel to and from school.”
Harrington recommends that parents remind their children to stop, look and listen every time they cross the street. Parents should also be good role models by walking with their children to school and demonstrating safe pedestrian practices – crossing only at intersections, stop signs and crosswalks.
Drivers are reminded to slow down, eliminate distractions such as cell phones and other electronic devices and to take extra precautions in school zones and neighborhoods areas where children and teenagers are travelling. Harrington asks drivers to be patient and wait for children to complete their crossing at intersections and to be mindful of the direction provided by crossing guards.
Sources:
http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/SafetyObservances/Pages/BackToSchoolSafety.aspx
http://www.parachutecanada.org/
Media Contact:
Marek Kubow
Corporate Communications and Public Relations
London Health Sciences Centre
519-685-8500 ext 75155
marek.kubow@lhsc.on.ca
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