Staff
The Grey Bruce Health Unit joins with Parachute Canada to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Parachute Safe Kids Week, May 30-June 5. Safe Kids Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness about preventable injury in Canada.
This year, Safe Kids Week highlights the importance of preventing the top childhood injuries at home, at play, and on the road. Preventable injuries are the #1 killer of children. Compared to Ontario, Grey Bruce has double the rate of visits to the emergency department because of an unintentional injury, and one of the top causes among kids is falls. Supervision and using equipment like window guards and safety gates can help to prevent fall-related injury.
As part of Safe Kids Week, the Grey Bruce Health Unit will go on social media with a campaign featuring community members showing their commitment to keeping kids safe. The campaign wants everyone to do what they can to prevent injuries – wear the gear, educate yourself and others, know the risks and hazards, and be a role model for others.
“We want kids to get outside and be active, but we want them to do it safely,” says Dr. Hazel Lynn, Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health. “Only by making safety a top priority can we reduce injuries and death. It takes all of us caring together to make it happen.”
Parachute is a national charity helping Canadians stop the clock on preventable injuries. The injury impact is staggering. Preventable injuries are the #1 killer of children. They cost the Canadian economy $27 billion a year, and worst of all, one child dies every nine hours. Through education, knowledge and empowerment, Parachute is working to save lives and create an injury-free Canada. For information, visit parachutecanada.org, follow on Twitter, or join on Facebook.
Parachute has many resources for parents and community organizations at www.parachutecanada.org/safekidsweek. For further information, call Public Health at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 or visit the website at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.
