Injury Prevention

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

(York Region Public Health, 2019) 

Walking around the neighbourhood of the child care setting is a  great way to teach children about pedestrian safety

Teach children the “five steps to safely crossing the street” 

Follow the same rules you want children to follow. Don’t cut across the street in the middle of the block if you want children to learn to cross at the intersection. 

Sidewalks are safest. In areas without sidewalks, teach children to walk as far away from traffic as they can and to walk facing oncoming traffic. 

Under nine years of age? Don’t cross alone. Children aged nine years of age should be accompanied by an adult, or an older child, when crossing the street. 

Be a positive role model.

Education Resource 

CAA’s Walking Your Way to Safety lesson plan focuses on pedestrian safety for children in kindergarten to grade three. 

Wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 85% and reduces the risk of brain injury by 88%. Cyclists under 18 are required by law to wear an approved bicycle helmet under the Highway Traffic Act. 

Make sure the child’s helmet fits properly. Use the 2V1 Shake Shake Shake rule: 

Cycling and Helmet Safety Tips 

Using the correct car seat for a child’s weight, height, and developmental ability, installing the car seat tightly and properly harnessing a child in their seat are all vital aspects of safe car seat use. The Ontario Highway Traffic Act includes child care professionals in the broader group of drivers who are required to use car seats and booster seats when travelling with babies and children. 

When travelling with babies and children (pick up/drop off services and/or day trips/ off-site activities) follow the car seat and vehicle manuals for correct installation and use these guidelines: 

Quality of Potable Water 

In an effort to better protect children and youth, the Ontario Regulation 243/07, Schools, Private Schools, and Child Care Centres made under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 was improved in 2017. The changes include testing the water of all faucets in a school or child care centre (where water is drawn for drinking). 

Lead 

Lead is a health concern particularly for young children and pregnant people. 

Children less than six years of age are still developing and are more sensitive to the neurological (brain) and blood effects of lead. Children under six years of age also absorb lead more easily than adults do. 

The Ontario Regulation 243/07 (Schools, Private Schools, and Day Nurseries) made under the Safe Drinking Water Act requires child care centres, private schools, and schools, that have or are in a building that has plumbing installed before January 1, 1990, to flush their lines daily, or that have plumbing installed on or after January 1, 1990, to flush weekly. 

Additional steps may be directed by the Medical Officer of Health. Flushing plumbing lines has been shown to significantly reduce the levels of lead in water coming out of the tap. 

Water Temperature 

Child Care facilities require hot water for many functions other than handwashing. These include dishwashing, laundry, and general cleaning purposes. Hot water at children’s hand wash sinks and other sinks accessible to children should be at the recommended temperature of at least 41◦C (105◦F) and should never exceed 49◦C (120◦F). 

At a temperature of 49◦C (120◦F), it takes two minutes to burn the skin, while it takes only seconds to burn the skin at a temperature of 55◦C (130◦F). By lowering the temperature, it allows enough time for children to properly wash their hands and react before an injury occurs. Mixing faucets are recommended to provide warm water to hand wash sinks. 

Resources

Health Unit’s webpage on Drinking Water. 

Water activities are a  good way to keep cool outside during the summer.

Sprinklers or wading pools are convenient alternatives to a public pool. Whichever is used, there are some safety guidelines that must be followed: 

Beach, Lake, and Pool Water 

In the warmer months, many people enjoy the beautiful beaches in our district, and visit local pools and spas. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit inspects these recreational waters on a regular basis so that we can identify any risks to health and safety. Visit the Health Unit's Beach, Lake, and Pool Water webpage for further information.

Public Spas, Pools and Hot Tubs

The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 requires that children get two hours of outside playtime daily, weather permitting. However, it may be too cold, hot, or sunny for children to safely play outside. 

Seven steps to follow to ensure cold weather safety: 

On a day when it is cold and windy, we often feel colder than we would if there were no wind at all. The combined effect of cold temperature and wind is called wind chill. 

The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 requires that children get two hours of outside playtime daily, weather permitting. However, it may be too cold, hot, or sunny for children to safely play outside. 

Heat and humidity can be very dangerous. Children are more at risk of dehydration because they have a high metabolic rate, produce more heat, and are smaller. It is also more difficult for them to cool down. 

 Signs that a child may be dehydrated: