Children at Syracuse's McKinley-Brighton Elementary School will take a walk today, Oct. 5, to learn about pedestrian safety and pedestrian dangers, and about the health benefits of daily walking. The event -- sponsored by the Safe Kids Upstate NY Coalition, which includes Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital -- is part of International Walk to School Day. McKinley-Brighton is one of more than 1,000 schools advocating for safer walking environments for children.

This is the 12th year Safe Kids has teamed up with hundreds of FedEx volunteers to teach children how to be safer pedestrians as they walk to and from school and raise awareness around specific pedestrian dangers or issues in their community.

The National Center for Health Statistics says road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children ages 3 to 14 worldwide. The number of child pedestrians injured in traffic crashes is decreasing in the United States. Even so, more than 13,000 children age 14 and younger went to the emergency room and 244 died from pedestrian-related injuries.

Learn more about Safe Kids

Learn more about International Walk to School Day