A study may be sobering to parents as they prepare to send their kids back to school, especially their teenagers. According to the study released by Safe Kids Worldwide and FedEx, teenagers are now the most at-risk youth for pedestrian injuries.
The report “Walking Safely, A Report to the Nation,” released in 2012, revealed that while walking safety has improved overall for children since 1995, there are still a staggering number of children hit by cars. More than 61 children are injured every day severely enough to seek medical attention. More than 500 children are killed every year in the U.S.
Interestingly, the most at-risk age group has shifted since 1995 when 5-9 year olds sustained the most injuries, to today when teens are at greatest risk. The death rate among older teens is now twice that of younger children. In the last five years, injuries among 16-19 year olds increased 25 percent over the previous five years. Today, 14-19 year olds account for half of all child pedestrian injuries.
“The work we have been doing with younger kids has clearly been effective,” said Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas. “But this new trend impacting our teenagers is disturbing.”
Why? Take a look at increased use of mobile technology. The spike in teen injuries seems to correlate with the prevalence of cell phone use, both among walkers and drivers. A recent study issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), also finds an alarming trend in injury risk involving distracted walkers.
“With approximately 75 percent of 12-17 year-olds owning cell phones, it’s important to talk to your children about putting phones away and paying attention when walking,” said Sage.
While the increased convenience of the mobile communications may make life easier for moms, dads and kids alike, there are risks. This gets said over and over, but it bears repeating. Parents, be the parents.
 Dale Hogg