Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16

A MERICA is launching far
~ flung crusade for child safety
~ intended to eliminate from
4 \ the harmony of children's
voices at school, home or play
the discordant note Of childish anguish
that arises too frequently from traffic
infested streets. inadequately supervised
Fairgrounds and other pitfalls Of
accident.
| as the vast army of little ones moves
back again on the Nations schools the
campaign will take on rejuvenated
| form.
Thousands upon thousands of little
strangers to the world of education
are entering classes for the first time
this Fall. In the National Capital,
| alone, some 1000 wide-eyed boys and
girls, awed and confused at their
initial venture into the field of books
and blackboards. will make their way
| to school tomorrow across the city's
busy >thoroughfares. Theirs are the
voices of innocence, of confidence in
their playmates and their elders.
| Yet the voices of 10000 of these
little children we're stilled throughout
the country last year-beneath the
tragic wheels of traffic, on the corner
lot, in the old swimming hole or at
divers other places fraught with danger
for youngsters.
All of these 10000 children were
under IA years and over S. The figures
include only children who lost their
lives in accidents. The number who
were injured and who will carry marks
of the accidents to their graves runs
into the hundreds of thousands.
Accidents rank third in the causes OF
death among children up to years OF
age, first in the causes of death among
children between the ages of 5 and IA
and sixth among persons Of all ages.
Auto Toll Is High.
Nearly one-fourth of all the victims
of automobile accidents are children
under the age of Is years. The auto
mobile thus becomes an outstanding
menace to the school child. Last year
in so cities that maintained records no
less than 34,577 children were struck
by automobiles.
Accidents happen in other places
than on the streets, however. For ex-
ample, $4,000 persons lost their lives in
industrial accidents last year and 10000
died as the result of accidents In the
home. Some $4,000 others were killed
in automobile accidents. All told a
| lew AlOlC Ul1dlk OO,OVO 1OSO Ik1CA lAECO al
various kinds of accidents last year
while the number injured ran into
millions. Three million we're injured
in industrial accidents alone, entailing
an economic loss Of more than $685.
100000
The cost Of accidents is appalling
far above the idea of the average per-
son. When one learns that one-fourth
Of the deaths from accidents are
among children of school age, the ques-
ton arises:
What is being done about it?"
Much is being done. A great deal
has been done. Much more will be
done. There are many agencies at work
to better conditions of the school chill
dren, and there Is one organization that
is devoting its entire time to safety edu-
cation. That is the education division
of the National Safety Council, of which
Albert w. Whitney Of New York is
chairman and Miss Idabelle Stevenson
also of New York, is secretary.
The National Safety Council spends
many thousands of dollars yearly tc
teach safety to school children, and
will continue the drive as long as bene.
fits are derived therefrem There is nc
doubt that the safety council ha:
made advances in keeping down Amer.
ica's accident and death lists.
Through the educational work of thu
council. many cities, civic organizations
educational bureaus and other organiza'