Injury Prevention

Simple and effective childproofing steps help avoid potential accidents. Here are some general ways to childproof your facility: 

  • Keep doorways and exits free of equipment, toys, and other objects. 

  • Make sure that bathroom and closet door locks can be opened from the inside. 

  • Cover electrical outlets that are not in use. 

  • Lock up cleaning supplies and hazardous materials, especially medications. 

  • Put safety locks on drawers that contain knives, etc. 

  • Cover radiators; use only protected heaters. 

  • Ensure shelves cannot be knocked down or items on shelves cannot be pulled down. 

Certain toys can be hazardous to young children. 

To avoid the dangers of hazardous toys, please take the following precautions: 

  • Ensure that toys and art materials are non-toxic and age appropriate. 

  • Discard toys that are broken or have detachable pieces that are small enough to stick in the eyes, nose, or ears, or that may be considered a choking hazard. 

  • Avoid brittle plastic toys that may be dangerous when broken. 

  • Choose toys that have rounded or smooth edges. 

  • Ensure metal toys are not lead based. 

  • Avoid toys that shoot items. 

More Information 

Health Canada has developed a booklet series titled Is Your Child Safe? for parents and caregivers. 

 

 

 

As children learn how to walk, run, jump, climb, and play, it is normal for them to fall. Although most falls do not result in serious injury, falls are still the leading cause for all childhood injuries requiring medical attention and hospitalization. 

Where and how a child slips, trips, or falls depends on their age and developmental stage. 

 

How to Prevent Falls 

The majority of falls are predictable and preventable. Preventing falls is a combination of active supervision and creating a safe environment. Child care staff need to role model safe behaviour, teach, and reinforce indoor and outdoor safety rules to manage the risk from unintentional fall-related injuries. 

Provide Active and Positive Supervision 

  • Children should never be left unsupervised. 

  • Establishing and reinforcing clear and simple safety rules children can easily follow. 

  • Child care professionals should be strategically positioned close to children, so they have the ability to intervene quickly. 

  • Redirecting children to alternate activities when play or exploring may result in injury. 

(York Region Public Health, 2019) 

  • Identify and remove or fix any potential tripping hazards (i.e., electrical cords). 

  • Childproof your child care facility. 

  • Keep doors, floors, and walkways free of equipment, toys, and other objects. 

  • Do not place furniture directly under a window as children can climb up and fall out an open window. 

  • Anchor furniture to walls and remove any heavy items from furniture surfaces. 

  • Use safety products (i.e., child gates) in areas that pose potential danger (i.e., stairs). 

  • Routinely inspect children’s play equipment/toys/furniture for normal functioning and possible defects or signs of damage 

  • Complete routine inspections of all harnesses on high chairs, strollers, and other items. The harnesses should be free of debris with the buckles in good working condition. 

  • Refer to Health Canada for any product recall notices. 

  • Implement policies to reduce injury, such as requiring all children to wear appropriate slip-resistant and close-toed shoes (not flip-flops) and use helmets whenever engaged in wheeled activities. 

  • Provide information to parents about the safety standards of the child care setting and inform them of their role in keeping children safe. 

  • Communicate safety information to parents regularly using bulletin boards, email, print resources, and newsletters. 

Ensure Staff:Regularly review the facility’s childhood fall prevention policies and procedures. 

  • Are adequately trained and have continued professional development opportunities on child safety and falls prevention. 

  • Always use safety straps when children are on a raised surface like a high chair or change table. 

  • Collect all necessary diaper changing items before placing child on raised change table to ensure you always have a hand on them. 

  • Never leave a child unattended on any raised surface. 

  • Never place an infant seat on an elevated surface like a counter or table top. 

  • Put toys away when not in use and keep floors dry and free from spills. 

  • Know the current abilities and temperament of children being supervised. Anticipate their next stage and abilities to ensure appropriate supervision is provided. 

  • Allow children to access toys and use play equipment that is appropriate for their age and developmental stage. 

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury that can affect how the brain works. Concussions can be caused by a blow or jolt to the head, neck, face, or body that causes the brain to shake inside the skull. Most often children sustain concussions by falling, colliding with another person, or being hit in the head by an object (i.e., ball). Helmets DO NOT prevent or protect against concussions but protect against other head injuries. 

It is not always easy to know if someone has a concussion. You cannot see the injury from the outside and often X-rays, MRI or CT scans appear normal. Always suspect a concussion, even if the incident did not appear to be serious. 

Not everyone experiences a concussion in the same way. Concussions can cause many negative side effects, including impacts to brain functions, to cognitive, emotional and physical health, and to sleep patterns. Symptoms of a concussion range from mild to severe and can last for days, weeks, or even months. 

Consequently, the healing process also varies from person to person. A concussion is unlike any other type of injury. 

Concussion Symptoms

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if an infant or young child has sustained a concussion. Signs and symptoms can happen right away or may only develop hours or days after the injury. They do not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Be aware of the following warning signs: 

  • Crying more than usual 

  • Headache that does not go away or constant rubbing of the head 

  • Slurred speech 

  • Slow to answer questions or follow directions 

  • Nausea and/or vomiting 

  • Changes in the way they play or act 

  • Changes in eating and/or sleeping patterns 

  • Drowsiness and/or difficulty in waking from a nap 

  • Tiring quickly or having little or no interest in anything 

  • Lack of interest in their usual activities or favourite toys 

  • Changes in mood – irritable, sad, emotional, nervous 

  • Sensitive to lights and/or sounds 

  • Loss of new skills, such as toilet training 

  • Poor coordination, stumbling, and/or loss of balance 

  • Unequal pupil size and/or vision problems 

  • Trouble recognizing familiar people 

If You Suspect a Concussion 

  • Immediately and safely remove the child from the activity. 

  • Call Emergency Medical Services (EMS) if the child is unresponsive or showing extreme signs and/or symptoms. 

  • Contact the parents/guardians and advise them of the incident and the signs and symptoms the child is experiencing. 

  • Continue to constantly observe the child for any additional physical (i.e., vomiting, balance problems), cognitive (i.e., difficulty focusing or concentrating), emotional/behavioural (i.e., irritability, sadness), and/or related to sleep (i.e., drowsiness, sleeping more or less than usual) changes while waiting for the parents/guardians to pick the child up from care. 

  • Communicate to the parents/guardians the importance of seeking medical attention for the child as soon as possible. 

Returning To Child Care After a Concussion 

  • When the child returns to the child care, follow the medical advice and recommendations provided by the child’s health care provider regarding learning and physical activities. This may mean altering the child’s play area within the facility as the child continues to recover from their concussion. 

  • Request the parents/guardians obtain medical clearance from the child’s health care provider to resume activities or play with increased risk of head injury. Children’s reaction times and thinking may be slower after a concussion, and this can put them at increased risk for further brain injury and possible second concussion known as Second Impact Syndrome. 

Concussion Resources 

Get more information on Concussions: 

The Health Unit also lends out educational resources such as Concussion Goggles and a Brain Mold Kit through the Lending Library. 

Contact Us

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

North Bay
345 Oak Street West

Parry Sound
90 Bowes St, 2nd Floor, Suite 201

Phone 705-474-1400
Toll Free 1-800-563-2808
contact@healthunit.ca