Health Care in Canada: Summer Outdoor Safety Tips

Wear a helmet when on wheels.
Whether riding a bicycle, scooter, inline skates or a skateboard, wearing a helmet is a proven way to prevent head injuries. Ensure the helmet you or your children use is certified for that activity. Replace your bike helmet after a crash. While children may have the motor skills to ride a bicycle by five or six years of age, they're not ready to ride on their own on the road for several more years. Children's abilities to handle traffic safety risks usually develop gradually between the ages of 10 and 14.

Use caution around lawnmowers.
Lawnmower injuries are common and can be extremely serious – either to the person mowing the lawn or to bystanders, often children. Ensure children are not present when you are mowing the lawn. Always turn the mower off and unplug it before adjusting or cleaning it. Mow the lawn only when dry and check for debris before you start.

Protect yourself from the sun.
Enjoy the sun, but be sure to cover up especially during the mid-day hours when the sun's ultraviolet rays are strongest. Wear sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen with a minimum sun-protection factor of 15. Keep babies, with their highly sensitive skin, covered and out of the sun as much as possible.

Pay attention to safety on, or near water.
Boaters should always wear, not just carry, personal flotation devices (PFDs). Alcohol and boating don't mix: leave the drinking until you're back on dry land.

Ensure your children learn to swim. Fence pools around all four sides and install self-closing, self-latching gates. There are new water sensitive alarms for small children (Turtle). All it takes is a few seconds for a child to drown. This is the latest technology to help keep your young children safe.

Prevent fires while camping.
Most camping injuries are related to campfires. Have a bucket of water close to the fire pit at all times. Before you go to bed, repeatedly douse the fire with water until the ashes no longer smoke or hiss. Then cover them with sand or soil.

Barbecue safely.
Inspect and clean your gas barbecue before using it. Check for leaks and replace worn parts. Barbecue outside, and only in a well-ventilated area away from windows and doors. Store propane cylinders outdoors, in an upright position.

Visit the Canadian Health Network for more great healthcare tips.

printer friendly

Email this to a friend