In honor of International Walk to School Day on Oct. 7, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., is participating in a countywide awareness event to teach children safe walking skills and to encourage the creation of safe walking environments.
"Every day, 44 children get hit by a motor vehicle in the United States," said Diana Starace, injury prevention coordinator at RWJUH and Safe Kids Middlesex County. "By walking with students on International Walk to School Day, we can show them how to walk safely."
RWJUH's Injury Prevention team volunteers at the hospital's Level I Trauma Center met students and school staff at two local parks at 7:30 Wednesday morning to travel to school together. The hospital volunteers, along with volunteers from Safe Kids Middlesex County, FedEx and the Dunellen police, fire and EMS departments, taught the children about pedestrian dangers, such as blind spots and making eye contact with drivers.
RWJUH has participated in the International Walk to School Day event for the past 12 years.
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