Playing it safe on Family Day weekend
Winter sports such as ice skating, tobogganing, skiing and snowboarding are fun, but they can also be dangerous – especially for children. Falls are the leading external cause of unintentional injury resulting in emergency room visits among York Region children and youth under the age of 20.
Ninety-five per cent of injuries are both predictable and preventable. Parents and caregivers of children heading outdoors this Family Day long weekend are reminded to play it safe by following three important rules:
Prepare for the weather
Always check the weather forecast before heading out into the cold. Dress in layers of warm, dry, reflective, windproof and waterproof clothing. To prevent serious cold weather injuries such as frostbite and hypothermia, limit outdoor activity when the temperature or wind chill factor falls below -25°C (-13°F), take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water and warm fluids to stay warm.
Use proper safety equipment
Winter sports equipment should be free from damage, provide good support and fit properly. When playing on ice or snow, always wear certified hockey helmets for skating and ski helmets for tobogganing, skiing and snowboarding.
Avoid hazards
Play in safe areas as a family. Make sure winter play surfaces are free of hazards – cracks, trees, rocks, bumps and bare spots, and far from roads. Children should always be supervised by a responsible adult and never participate in winter sports alone.
York Region Public Health is using findings from The Burden of Injury in York Region Children and Youth report to support policy development and guide programs and services focused on preventing predictable childhood injuries.
Safe winter family fun tips and important childhood injury trends are available on York Region’s #YRpreventsinjuries Pinterest page. Help raise awareness of the impact of predictable and preventable injuries by sharing these tips and trends on social media using the hashtag #YRpreventsinjuries.
For more information on injury prevention, contact Health Connection at
1-800-361-5633,TTY 1-866-252-9933 or visit york.ca/injuryprevention
(Source:The Regional Municipality of York) |