3 minute read
safe, not sorry
from CL - March 2014
HOW tO keep yOur family HealtHy during
marcH break. By Dr. Danielle Martin, MD
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Ah, March—it seems like the longest month. Te days are still short, dark, and cold, death for Canadians between the ages of one and 34, and are among the top causes of hospitalization for Canadians of all and though spring may be just around the corner, it seldom feels that way. Many Canadians take a week of vacation in March simply because they need a break from the grind.
Spending that break in a warm climate— or even in a snowy Canadian locale—can be terrifc, but it can also involve health risks, particularly if your vacation plans include outdoor adventuring.
Accidents are the leading cause of ages. But the majority of injuries are predictable and preventable. Tere is much we can do, both for ourselves and for our families, to prevent injury. If you’re heading out on vacation this season, especially with kids, consider the following.
1One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your family is insist on seatbelt use, ageappropriate car seats, lifejackets in and around water, and helmets for sports such as cycling and skiing. Every time. It can be tempting to make exceptions to these rules when on vacation because we aren’t functioning within our usual systems. Don’t.
2Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death for Canadian children. Active supervision of children around water is critical at all times. Also, make sure your kids take swimming lessons throughout the year.
3Children should play indoors when the temperature or the wind chill falls below -25°C. When outdoors in cold weather, make sure kids and adults are dressed appropriately. When in tropical climes, remember that children are particularly prone to heat-related injuries, as they tend to warm up three to fve times faster than adults. It’s important to watch carefully for signs of dehydration. Drink plenty of clear fuids and take breaks in cool, shady areas. When replacing fuids, make sure to also replace salt, which can be lost through sweating or by consuming too much water. Use sports drinks and eat regularly, in addition to drinking water.
4In an emergency, training in frst aid and CPR can make all the difference. Every Canadian teen and adult should take a frst aid or CPR course. (Find one near you at heartandstroke.ca.) Tey are afordable and ofered in nearly every community.
This content is vetted Danielle Martin is by medical experts at a family physician in Toronto and the vice-president of Medical Afairs and Health System Solutions at Women’s College Hospital.
Safety year-rounD
Some of the most important ways of protecting canadians are within the power of government to change. legislation making car seats, seatbelts and helmets mandatory have made an enormous impact on death rates in recent decades. Organizations dedicated to injury prevention, such as Parachute (parachutecanada.org), have provided evidence for additional policy measures, including regulations to ensure that homes have functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detection systems; playground safety bylaws; and urban planning to maximize pedestrian and cyclist safety. Our elected ofcials need to listen to groups like parachute and put more efort into ensuring the safety of citizens. Helping them transition from the mindset of “accidents” to that of “preventable injuries” is an important step in the right direction.
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