Taking Steps for Pedestrian Safety

Walking is a great way to get exercise every day. Not only is it good for your health, but walking is also good for the environment. Before you head out for a casual stroll, a power walk, or an errand, there are important safety tips to remember.

Pedestrians are people who travel by foot, wheelchair, stroller, or similar means. They are among the most vulnerable users of the road.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on average, 430 people in the U.S. will receive treatment in an emergency department for traffic-related injuries in a 24-hour period.

The Department of Transportation says that, on average, one pedestrian will die from injuries in a traffic crash every two hours.

Walkers of all ages are at risk of injury or death from traffic crashes, but children are at even greater risk of injury or death from traffic crashes due to their small size, inability to judge distances and speeds, and lack of experience with traffic rules.

When walking along or near roads, keep these tips in mind:

Cross the street at a designated crosswalk or intersection whenever possible.

Increase your visibility at night by carrying a flashlight and wearing retro-reflective clothing.

Using a sidewalk is the safest option, but if one is not available, walk on the shoulder of the road and face traffic.

Avoid distractions such as electronic devices that take your attention off the road.

Children's safety is especially when they are walking near traffic. For additional resources on ways to promote pedestrian safety for children, visit the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety.

The Safe Routes to School website, www.saferoutesinfo.org, offers information on how to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children.

Here in Marion County, the WalkWays initiative is creating a pedestrian safety program and developing a pedestrian master plan that will help promote walking in the community.

The Marion County Public Health Depart is part of this effort to make Indianapolis a safer, more accessible and inviting place for people to walk or access using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

For more information on this partnership and its goals, visit indywalkways.org.

Fight Germs. Wash Your Hands!

Handwashing gets rid of germs and chemicals that get on our hands every day. Regular handwashing, especially before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.

Here are five quick and easy steps to reduce the spread of illness and keep you healthy:

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.

Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol to clean hands. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs and might not remove harmful chemicals.