Communities are coming together statewide to protect children as they head back to school

Bedford, IN – The state of Indiana is embracing the Kids dart. Drive smart. child safety campaign! This year, Bedford Regional Medical Center is partnering with Riley Hospital for Children, Kohl’s, AAA Hoosier Motor Club, referring physicians and 15 others hospitals across the state in a unique grassroots campaign designed to remind adults that children are heading back to school and to slow down, stay alert and focused while driving. This is especially important because ‘back-to-school’ season results in a significant increase in the number of children injured as pedestrians or bicyclists, of which there are a variety of factors that may contribute to this increase:

• Distractions: When children walk or ride to school, they often become distracted as they socialize with friends, think about the school day and get used to new routines.
• After School Activities: After school, children may dash outside to enjoy the warm weather and remaining sunlight.
• Increased Traffic: In and around schools, there is more traffic as children walk or ride bikes, adults driving in the area to drop off their children and buses transporting students.

To help keep kids safe, Bedford Regional Medical Center, Riley Hospital and its partners are making Kids dart. Drive smart. yard signs available at no cost, while supplies last, for neighborhoods, schools, churches, businesses and homes in an effort to raise awareness, engage the community and significantly reduce child pedestrian injuries. This year, over 40,000 yard signs will be distributed in more than 30 cities statewide.

Kids Dart yard signs feature children running and playing as a reminder that it is often difficult for children to accurately judge the distance of an approaching vehicle and that kids will dart from between parked cars while playing. Please call (812) 275-1378 to reserve your free Kids dart. Drive smart. yard sign.

“Last year we distributed more than 1300 signs throughout Lawrence County. We are excited to offer the yard signs again this year,” states Tina McCormick, Public Relations and Marketing Director at Bedford Regional Medical Center. “Neighbors embraced this campaign because it reminds us that kids are kids. This effort switches the responsibility to adults, and encourages us to slow down and think about what we’re doing.”

“The entire community plays an important role in decreasing child pedestrian injuries. Since we have started the Kids Dart campaign, we have placed signage in some of our most dangerous pedestrian areas and locations where children typically play,” said Joe O’Neil, MD, MPH, developmental pediatrician, Riley Hospital for Children. “This program helps all of us to be more aware and attentive for our children.”

Driver distractions or inattentive driving plays a part in one out of every four motor vehicle crashes. According to the Automobile Association of America, every two seconds you take your eyes off the road, the chances of having an accident double. Avoid texting and/or talking on a cell phone, putting on makeup, eating, smoking, reading, writing or even picking something up from the floor or between the seats while driving.

In 2007, more than 42,000 children were injured as pedestrians in the United States. From 1999-2006, Clarian hospitals, including Riley Hospital for Children, treated 733 children aged 17 and younger for pedestrian injuries. As seen nationally, more males (58 percent) were treated for pedestrian injuries than females. Nationally, children age 5-9 years sustain the highest percentage of injuries. At Clarian, however, 10-14 year olds (30 percent) sustained the highest percentage of injuries.

“We hope that seeing the Kids Dart signs across the state will get everyone thinking about the role we all play in preventing child pedestrian injuries,” continued Dr. O’Neil.

During the inaugural campaign in 2007, more than 5,000 Kids Dart yard signs were distributed in the Indianapolis area, with demand exceeding supply. In 2008, Riley Hospital expanded the campaign by engaging hospital partners in eight Indiana cities and distributed almost 19,000 signs.

The Kids dart. Drive smart. campaign is a unique call to change to combat a serious problem and keep Indiana children safe. To find out how to get involved or for printable tips on child pedestrian safety please visit www.KidsDart.org.