The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
School/Playground 1. What makes some playgrounds safer than others? The safest playgrounds are well maintained (no broken, protruding or loose parts) and have ample soft surfacing. Recommended surface materials include hardwood fibre, mulch chips, pea gravel, fine sand, and shredded rubber. Surfacing should be kept at least 12 inches deep and should extend a minimum of 6 feet in all directions around stationary equipment. Avoid playgrounds with asphalt, concrete, grass and soil surfaces under the equipment. Even on safe playgrounds, make sure that children are supervised at all times and that they play on age-appropriate equipment. 2. At what age can I allow my child to bicycle to school by herself? Children under age 10 should never be allowed to ride in the street without adult supervision. Even for children over age 10, parents must determine if the essential traffic skills have been mastered. Whether the path to school involves street riding or not, take the time to plan a safe cycling route with your child and ride it with them. A safe cycling route may not be the same as a safe walking route. Pedestrian 1. At what age can my child cross the street alone? Generally, children ages 10 and over can cross streets safely without the close supervision of an adult. Children ages 4 and under are at greatest risk for pedestrian-related deaths and injuries. Parents often overestimate their children's pedestrian skills. Children are impulsive and have difficulty judging speed, spatial relations, distance and velocity. They frequently do not have the cognitive development and behavioural capacity to react to complicated traffic situations, such as intersections. 2. What should my child wear to be most visible to drivers in the rain and in low-light situations, including dusk and dawn? Children should always wear clothing, accessories, and/or footwear that incorporate retroreflective materials so that they can be seen by motorists. Retroreflective material permits a large amount of reflected light (such as a vehicle headlight) to "bounce back" to its original light source (the driver). Retroreflective material makes clothing 1,500 times brighter than white clothing. Since very little light is scattered, retroreflective material appears brightest to an observer near the original light source. Water 1. How can we make sure that our pool is safe? The pool should be surrounded by four-sided isolation fencing that is at least 5 feet high and equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates. Adults should be on hand at all times to supervise kids in or near the pool. Learn CPR. Keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers poolside. NEVER leave a child unsupervised in or around a swimming pool, even for a second. It's also important to remember that pool covers are not designed to prevent children from drowning. Keep water from collecting on the pool cover surface, and more importantly, watch children even around a pool that's covered. 2. When should my child start swimming lessons? Wait until your child is four years old to start swimming lessons. Children under age 4 are more likely to develop infections from swallowing too much water. However, parents can get started earlier with classes in which kids keep their heads above water. In either case, make sure that the instructor is certified by Red Cross or YMCA standards. Never assume your child is "drown-proof". Even though your child may have learned to swim, she still needs constant supervision.
