Citation

McLaughlin CM, Barry WE, Barin EN, Mert M, Lowery C, Upperman JS, Jensen AR, Arbogast H. J. Surg. Res. 2019; 244: 57-62.

Affiliation

Injury Prevention Program, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jss.2019.06.015

PMID

31279264

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.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Crosswalk; Injury prevention; Pedestrian; Pediatric; Safety; Street