Safety Education

The story of injury in Canada is a story of potential lost

Injury is the leading cause of death for Canadians ages one to 44. The human and societal potential lost through injury is immense.

In 2018, injuries stole 333,791 years of potential life lived, of missed celebrations, milestones, family memories, and contributions through work and volunteering.

The total cost of injuries, $29.4 billion, equals a cost of $80 million to the Canadian economy every day. The total direct cost of $20.4 billion translates to an average of $56 million spent per day in the Canadian health-care system that has the potential to be allocated to other needs in the system, for example, fewer critical-care hospital beds occupied as a result of injuries.

We have the potential to change the story

The fact is, almost all these injuries and deaths, and the resulting costs, could have been prevented. We must take action to create a different story of a Canada free from serious injuries and deaths.

We need to invest in advocacy to ensure that our laws, the spaces and places where we live, play, work and travel, and the products we use are all built to standards that minimize injury.

We need to invest in preventative measures that we know work to reduce or eliminate injury, and educate people about their effectiveness to ensure these are widely adopted.

And we need to invest in research to grow our evidence of what is effective so we can stem Canada’s tragic loss of potential by preventing injuries and saving lives in the years to come.

Information provided by: https://parachute.ca/en/professional-resource/cost-of-injury-in-canada

ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET!

Bike helmets save lives. Crashes and falls happen and when they do, a properly fitted helmet can protect you from a serious or even deadly head injury. That means parents too!

REMEMBER:

Cyclists who ride without helmets are 8 times more likely to have brain injuries when in a crash, compared to cyclists who wear helmets.

  • Always wear a certified helmet
  • Make sure it fits properly
  • Replace a damaged helmet
  • Put your name, address and emergency phone number inside your helmet

HOW TO "FIT" YOUR BIKE HELMET:

  • There should be two fingers between your helmet and your eyebrows
  • Straps should form a V shape around your ears
  • Only one finger should fit between your chin and the strap

For more information download the 2V1 Helmet Fitting Guide

RULES OF THE ROAD

  • Wear a helmet every time you ride.
  • Wear bright clothing so drivers can see you better
  • You need enough space to avoid hazards.
  • Ride one metre from the curb or from parked cars.
  • Ride in a straight line on the right hand side of the road, in the same direction as traffic. Do not weave in between parked cars.
  • Ride beside parked cars as if all the car doors were open. As long as you are riding in a straight line, motorists coming from behind will see you and give you enough space.

ALWAYS STOP:

  • At stop signs and red lights.
  • At the edge of the road. Look all ways to see if the road is clear before entering a road.
  • For stopped school buses when their red lights are flashing.
  • For pedestrian at crosswalks.
  • Two metres behind bus and streetcar doors and wait until the passengers have boarded or reached the curb.

For more information download the Ontario Guide to Safe Cycling.

BIKE MAINTENANCE

The A-B-C Quick Check: Do it before you ride.

A is for Air – Check your tire pressure before each ride. Check that your wheels are true. Check that the valves on your tires are sitting straight. Check that the sidewalls on your tires are not worn.

B is for Brakes and Bars– Check that your brake pads hit the wheel rim squarely, without touching the rubber. Check for two finger’s distance between the brake lever and your handgrip when squeezed. Check your brake cables for wear and kinks. Check to see if your handlebars are loose.

C is for Chain – Check that your chain is on properly. Check that it is properly lubricated. Check for damage, and be sure your pedals spin freely backwards.

Quick is for Quick Release– Check that your quick release tires are on securely. Quick release handles should be pointed toward the rear of the bike.

Finally, perform an overall check of your bike by lifting it several inches off the ground and dropping it. Listen for loose parts, and tighten as necessary. Keep a spare tube, mini pump/CO2, and multi-tool with you when you ride.

Car crashes are a leading cause of death and injury to children in Canada. When children use car seats, they are well protected and less likely to be severely injured.

Learn More About Car Seat Safety

CAN I BUY A USED CAR SEAT? CAN I DONATE A USED CAR SEAT?

It is important to understand the potential risks when using a used car seat or booster seat. For example, the seat may be missing important parts, labels or instructions, may be expired, or may have an unknown history that could reduce its safe performance when needed. Due to these potential risks, the Safe Seats Committee does not recommend the selling, purchasing, loaning, or donating of used car seats.

CONTACT US HOTLINE PHONE NUMBER

If you have any questions about car seats, or upcoming clinic dates, please visit the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

DISPOSING OF OLD/EXPIRED/DAMAGED CAR SEATS.

To prevent someone from using your old/expired/damaged car seat, please cut the straps of the car seat with a pair of scissors and place on your curb on your garbage collection day. If the straps are not cut, it is likely that someone will pick up the car seat before the garbage collectors and potentially use it for a child.

TYPES OF CAR SEATS REQUIRED BASED ON HEIGHT, WEIGHT, AND AGE OF CHILD

The chart below shows the weight range of children recommended for all four stages of vehicle restraints based on child seats and booster seats sold in stores today.

Be sure that your child fits the weight and height range of the restraint before you buy it.

INFANTS

Infants weighing 22 lbs are to travel properly secured in a rearward-facing child safety seat that meets the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). Please see diagram images A and B for examples of what rearward-facing child safety seats look like.

TODDLERS

Toddlers weighing 9 to 18 kg (22-40lbs) are to travel properly secured in a forward-facing child safety seat that complies with CMVSS and must be anchored to the vehicle using the tether strap (found on the back of the car seat). Please see diagram images B, C, and D for examples of what a forward-facing child safety seat looks like.

CHILDREN

Children under the age of eight, who weigh 40-80 lbs, and who stand less than 4ft. 9 ins must travel in a booster seat that meets the CMVSS. Please see diagram images E, F, and G for examples of what booster seats look like.

SEAT BELTS

A child can start using a seatbelt alone once they meet any of the following criteria:

  • Child turns eight years old
  • Child weighs 80 lbs (36 kg.)
  • Child is 4 ft. 9 ins tall (145 cm)

A Infant seat with base B “3-in-1” convertible seat – infant/ child/booster seat C Infant/child/booster seat D Child/booster seat E Backless booster seat F High-back booster seat G Combination (child/booster) seat – belt-positioning booster seat mode.

DIGITAL SAFETY

For the non tech savvy

Download the Digital Safety: For The Non Tech Savvy PDF

Digital Safety PDF