Cory M McLaughlin1, Wesley E Barry2, Erica N Barin1, Melissa Mert3, Chantel Lowery4, Jeffrey S Upperman2, Aaron R Jensen5, Helen Arbogast4. 1. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. 2. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. 3. Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC-CTSI), Los Angeles, California. 4. Injury Prevention Program, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. 5. Division of Pediatric Surgery, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California. Electronic address: aaron.jensen@ucsf.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pedestrian-related injuries are a significant contributor to preventable mortality and disability in children. We hypothesized that interactive pedestrian safety education is associated with increased knowledge, safe crosswalk behaviors, and lower incidence of pedestrian-related injuries in elementary school-aged children. METHODS: An interactive street-crossing simulation was implemented at target elementary schools in Los Angeles County beginning in 2009. Mixed-methods were used to evaluate the impact of this intervention. Multiple-choice examinations were used to test pedestrian safety knowledge, anonymous observations were used to assess street-crossing behaviors, and statewide traffic records were used to report pedestrian injuries in elementary school-aged (4-11 y) children in participating school districts. Pedestrian injury incidence was compared 1 y before and after the intervention, standardized to the incidence in the entire City of Los Angeles. RESULTS: A total of 1424 and 1522 children completed the pretest and post-test, respectively. Correct answers increased for nine of ten questions (all P < 0.01). Children more frequently looked both ways before crossing the street after the intervention (10% versus 41%, P < 0.001). There were 6 reported pedestrian-related injuries in intervention school districts in the year before the intervention and 2 injuries in the year after the intervention, resulting in a significantly lower injury incidence (standardized rate ratio 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11-0.73). CONCLUSION: Pedestrian safety education at Los Angeles elementary schools was associated with increased knowledge, safe street-crossing behavior, and lower incidence of pediatric pedestrian-related injury. Formal pedestrian safety education should be considered with injury prevention efforts in similar urban communities.
BACKGROUND: Pedestrian-related injuries are a significant contributor to preventable mortality and disability in children. We hypothesized that interactive pedestrian safety education is associated with increased knowledge, safe crosswalk behaviors, and lower incidence of pedestrian-related injuries in elementary school-aged children. METHODS: An interactive street-crossing simulation was implemented at target elementary schools in Los Angeles County beginning in 2009. Mixed-methods were used to evaluate the impact of this intervention. Multiple-choice examinations were used to test pedestrian safety knowledge, anonymous observations were used to assess street-crossing behaviors, and statewide traffic records were used to report pedestrian injuries in elementary school-aged (4-11 y) children in participating school districts. Pedestrian injury incidence was compared 1 y before and after the intervention, standardized to the incidence in the entire City of Los Angeles. RESULTS: A total of 1424 and 1522 children completed the pretest and post-test, respectively. Correct answers increased for nine of ten questions (all P < 0.01). Children more frequently looked both ways before crossing the street after the intervention (10% versus 41%, P < 0.001). There were 6 reported pedestrian-related injuries in intervention school districts in the year before the intervention and 2 injuries in the year after the intervention, resulting in a significantly lower injury incidence (standardized rate ratio 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11-0.73). CONCLUSION: Pedestrian safety education at Los Angeles elementary schools was associated with increased knowledge, safe street-crossing behavior, and lower incidence of pediatric pedestrian-related injury. Formal pedestrian safety education should be considered with injury prevention efforts in similar urban communities.
Authors: Shelby L Bachman; Helen Arbogast; Pearl Ruiz; Mina Farag; Natalie E Demeter; Jeffrey S Upperman; Rita V Burke Journal: J Community Health Date: 2015-12
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Authors: Moien A B Khan; Michal Grivna; Javaid Nauman; Elpidoforos S Soteriades; Arif Alper Cevik; Muhammad Jawad Hashim; Romona Govender; Salma Rashid Al Azeezi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-03-23 Impact factor: 3.390