Did you know? May 30 to June 5, 2016 is Parachute Canada’s Safe Kids Week, which is an annual public awareness campaign about preventable childhood injuries. The 2016 Safe Kids Week theme focuses on the top causes of injury that affect children At Home, At Play and On the Road.
For the 20th anniversary of Safe Kids Week, there is good news to share. Parachute Canada reports that since 1996 there has been a decreasing trend in death and hospitalizations from preventable injuries in children. However, there are still challenges to overcome as many of these injuries whether at home, at play or on the road are predictable as well as preventable.
Lots of information and many safety tips are available to help you decide which actions are the most appropriate for keeping the young children in your life free from injury.
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and can happen “at home” or “at play”, inside or outside.
Outdoor safety tip:
Keep children under the age of 5 years on equipment that is lower than 5 feet (1.5 metres).
Indoor safety tip:
Lock windows at 10 centimeters (4 inches) or less using window safety devices. Your child could fall out of an open window. Screens will not protect your child from falling out of windows.
"On the road"
“On the road” has many aspects to think about including cycling or any wheeled activities, being a pedestrian and travelling in vehicles.
Make sure that your child is using the right car seat for his/her weight and height. Current recommendations are that children stay rear-facing until 2 years of age as long as they have not outgrown the size limits of the specific car seat that is being used.
Take time during Safe Kids Week to check out further ideas that keep your child safe while still supporting growth and development, including creativity and a sense of adventure.