Outdoor Safety
Sun Safety |
As a parent, it is important for you to protect yourself and your family from the sun. The sun gives off ultraviolet (UV) radiation which can be harmful. If your baby or toddler spends too much time in the sun without skin protection they are at greater risk for skin cancer later in life. Keep these sun safety tips in mind when caring for your baby or toddler:
Know your daily UV Index
You are an important role model. Practice Sun Safety! |
Keeping babies and toddlers safe during hot weather | ||||
Keep babies and toddlers safe during hot weather and limit the time they spend outdoors during the hottest part of the day. Babies and toddlers are more at risk of dehydrating because they have a high metabolic rate, produce more heat, and are smaller. It is also more difficult for them to cool down.
Help children avoid dehydration
Do not cover your child's stroller or car seat with a blanket. This will increase the temperature inside the stroller. Instead, bring your child to a shady area or use a portable stroller fan, if possible. Be alert for signs that your child is experiencing heat illness and needs to go inside. Never leave a child in a parked vehicle or in direct sunlight. When outside air temperature is 23ºC/73ºF, the temperature inside a vehicle can be extremely dangerous – more than 50ºC/122ºF. Look twice before locking. Always keep cars locked while in garages or driveways to prevent children from inadvertently becoming trapped. The Canada Safety Council suggests making a habit of placing your cell phone, purse or wallet in the back seat — a strategy that requires you to turn around and check the back seat whenever you leave the vehicle. When children go outside
Keep your home cool
If your home is extremely hot
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Protecting your Family from Mosquito and Tick Bites | ||||
Being active in nature is a wonderful way to spend time together as a family. Ottawa is home to many beautiful trails, wooded areas, and scenery. While enjoying the great outdoors, take steps to prevent tick and mosquito bites. You can help by making this part of your family’s regular routine. TicksTicks are most often found in wooded, shrubby, long-grassed, or leaf-littered areas providing shade and humidity and the strip immediately bordering such areas. Such tick habitat can be found throughout Ottawa’s geographic area. What can I do to protect my family from tick bites?You can practice simple steps to help minimize exposure to ticks. You can make these steps part of your regular routine, if you will be in areas suitable for ticks.
Summer Camps and Daycares:
MosquitoesYou can help protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by following the tips below.
Reduce Standing WaterDid you know that mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water (water that does not move or flow)? Mosquitoes need water to breed. Check around your home to see if you have areas with standing water. This can be a fun activity with your little ones too! Here are some frequent spots where you might find standing water:
Tips for reducing standing water:
For more information on mosquitoes, visit the Ottawa Public Health website.
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Winter Safety | ||||
Did you know that the months of December, January and February are the coldest months of the Ottawa winter? It is hard to stay away from the cold weather but there are things you can do to protect your child. Frostbite happens when your skin that is not covered starts to freeze. You will see it most often on the cheeks, ears, nose, fingers and toes. Hypothermia occurs when your body's temperature drops too low. Safety Tips
For more information on winter safety, visit Health Canada (PDF). |
Helmet Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Looking to buy your child a helmet? Here are some important points to remember:
For children under five years of age: There are special helmets for toddlers (under age five) that provide more protection at the back of the head. Some children may outgrow the “toddler” size helmet before age five and should use a bigger helmet. When buying a helmet for a child, buy one that fits now, and not one they will grow into. Are you wondering if your child is wearing the right helmet and if it fits properly? Check out the following sections to help answer your questions:
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Playground Safety |
Safe Playground FunPlaygrounds are a great place to have fun and be active with your child! Did you know that playing outdoors has many benefits for your child? They include:
Playing outside is important for your child’s development. It is also important to keep your child safe from preventable injuries. Here are the most common injuries:
Most of these injuries are preventable through:
Playground Safety Tips for Parents:
While at the playground encourage your child to:
Keep bikes and bags away from equipment and play area to prevent tripping Backyard Play StructuresBackyard play structures should meet the Canadian Standards Association Canadian Playground Safety Standards. Some of the standards are:
For more information on playground equipment standards, go to Canadian Standards Association or call 1-800-463-6727. It is important to know that backyard trampolines can cause serious injuries. These injuries can happen even when adults are supervising and with the use of safety nets. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends “trampolines should not be used as play equipment.” For more information go to Canadian Paediatric Society, Caring for Kids. Remember, backyard kiddy pools are a potential hazard for drownings. Active supervision of your child and emptying the kiddy pool after use, will help keep your child safe. For information on water safety, go to Parenting in Ottawa or call Ottawa Public Health Info Centre at 613-PARENTS [613-727-3687] (TTY: 613-580-9656). Check Ottawa Parks for a list of playgrounds in your neighbourhood. |
Water Safety |
Did you know that drowning can occur in as little as 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water? According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, drowning is the second most common cause of death for children less than 5 years of age. General SafetyTo keep your kids safe around water, follow these tips:
Backyard PoolsAccording to Parachute, nearly half of all child drownings occur in backyard swimming pools. Follow these tips to help ensure pool safety:
New Rules for Backyard PoolsAll pool owners in the City of Ottawa must have pool enclosure gates that are self-closing, self-latching and locked at all times, except when the pool area is in use. See Pool Enclosure By-law (No.2013-39) for more information. |
Do you have more questions about parenting?
- Speak with a Public Health Nurse. Call the Ottawa Public Health Info Centre at 613-PARENTS [613-727-3687] (TTY: 613-580-9656) or email Ottawa Public Health at ParentinginOttawa@ottawa.ca
- Connect with a Public Health Nurse and other parents on the Parenting in Ottawa Facebook page
- There are a variety of services to make it easier for your child to grow up healthy in Ottawa
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