From Deseret News archives:
Grant to help child safety
Safe Kids Salt Lake County, a group dedicated to preventing accidental childhood injury, and FedEx Express have joined forces to create a pedestrian safety task force for Arcadia Elementary — with a $9,200 grant.
"This is what Safe Kids is all about — bringing issues and good ideas in schools to the forefront and making good, environmental long-lasting changes," May Romo, Safe Kids Salt Lake County director, said Tuesday.
The task force, composed of community leaders interested in child and pedestrian safety, will work throughout 2007 to purchase and install radar speed signs, additional traffic and pedestrian signs, redesign the school parking lot, upgrade curb markings, upgrade and redesign traffic flow patterns and improve the permanent walking conditions for child pedestrians in Taylorsville.
Margo Irvine, PTA safety commissioner, said Arcadia Elementary needs some help — both students and crossing guards have been hit or almost hit outside the school in recent years.
Aside from the physical modifications, parent education will be another large piece of the safety efforts, she said.
According to data from Safe Kids, approximately 200 children 14 years old and under are struck per year by motor vehicles.
Pedestrian injury remains the second leading cause of accidental death among children age 5-14. And every year, nationwide, more than 630 children, age 14 and under, die from pedestrian-related injuries and more than 30,000 go to the emergency room.
Safe Kids Salt Lake County activities are designed to help children walk safely all year round.
Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall told students Tuesday that they share in some of the responsibility in staying safe.
"No matter how safe you feel, or how much money we spend to make things safer, always assume that (motorists) don't see you," Wall told Arcadia students.
E-mail: terickson@desnews.com
