Wellness and Prevention

One of the most frightening safety risks to our children is the busy streets we live on. We have become such a mobile society that even what were once quiet and isolated streets are now populated with vehicles coming and going multiple times each day. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing oncoming traffic.

Walking is an important part of remaining active, but it can be dangerous. Here are some tips from Intermountain Children’s Health to help keep your family safe while walking:

• Provide play areas away from driveways, streets, parking lots, or unfenced yards by the street.
• When walking at night, wear light colors or reflectors.
• When crossing a street, stop at the curb and look left, right, and left again before crossing.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
• Cross at least 10 feet in front of a school bus.
• Never run across the street. Children under 10 years old should not cross alone.
• Everyone should cross at corners using traffic signals or at marked crosswalks.