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Safety educators

  


New! Now Available! Safe Start's new educational dvd,
Give Your Child a Safe Start. Learn how to prevent injuries
and keep children safe. Click here to view.

Also, to view the accompanying booklet and for ordering
the new Give Your Child a Safe Start resources, please see
our Resources section.



Safe Start offers some tips for creating a safety presentation to help illustrate the most common injury hazards in the home.

For health fairs and other safety events, Safe Start offers a free Display Loan Program to promote safety in the home and outdoors. Topics include choking, poisoning, water safety, car seats, window safety,scald prevention and many more!  For more information visit the Display Loan Program

Build you own safety kit!


Safe Start can help you put together your own safety kit.  See suggestions below or make up your own!  Products can be purchased from the Safety Station.  Free shipping on orders over $200. (not including gates)

Falls


The most common sites for falls are coffee tables, fireplaces, open windows, stairs and furniture (unstable or top-heavy bookcases, dressers, and TV stands). Samples of safety products in your kit can include corner, table and hearth cushions, anti-tip brackets, and window and door locks.
 
Use a ruler to demonstrate the 10 cm (4 in) maximum allowable width for open windows.

 

Poisonings

 
Children cannot read labels. They also like to imitate their parents or caregivers. By seeing cleaners and medications through the eyes of a child, adults can learn how easily their children might drink or eat something poisonous.
 
Include in your kit examples of common medications (coloured pills), nicotine gum and cleaners, along with non-toxic 'look alikes' like apple juice or fruit punch, regular gum, and small, coloured candy.You could also include a selection of various cupboard locks. Include poison control numbers and first aid information cards for quick reference. These and other poison prevention brochures are available from the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre in Vancouver. Phone: 604-682-2344 ext. 62126 or visit:  .http://www.dpic.org/index.php

Choking

 

The most severe choking incidents treated at BC Children's Emergency Department involved hot dogs, popcorn, grapes, carrots, nuts and gel candies.  Non-food hazards included coins, nails and screws, small toy pieces, buttons and earrings. Also, keep disc batteries and small magnets away from young children.  Deflated or broken balloons are also a choking hazard.
 
During your presentation, drop a few of the above items into a toilet paper tube. Items that fit are likely to be choking hazards and should be kept out of reach. Always remind parents to grate food before serving and cut grapes in half, especially for children under age three. Parents should not give popcorn to children under four years of age.

Second-hand products


Remind parents that many products designed for children are not necessarily governed by safety standards. As well, there are thousands of recalls affecting toys, furniture, playpens, strollers and infant swings/entertainment centres. In April 2004, Health Canada imposed a ban on the sale, importation and advertisement of wheeled baby walkers in Canada. Walkers are still used in households across the country, and are extremely dangerous.
 
Many models of child car seats are been recalled. For a complete list of recalls on all nursery products and toys, visit http://www.healthycanadians.ca/index-eng.php


Updated:  August 10, 2010