Risk
Guardian - Autumn 2005PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY IN ONTARIO
Send your comments and submissions to:
Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council,
Carol Gravelle, Editor
5775 Yonge Street,
7th Floor,
Toronto, ON M2M 4J1
Tel: 416-325-3138
carol.gravelle@jus.gov.on.ca
On October 25, SMARTRISK and the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) launched a National Injury Prevention Strategy to save lives, reduce hospital care expenditures and shrink the estimated $15 billion cost of healthcare to Canadian taxpayers.
IBC is the property and casualty trade association that represents the private companies who insure the homes, cars and business of Canadians. Together with SMARTRISK and other consultative partners, they are calling on the federal government to implement the recommendations contained in their recently developed study entitled Ending Canada's Invisible Epidemic: A Strategy for Injury Prevention.
“Every day, about 6,000 Canadians are injured and almost 40 die as a result of their injuries. It is the number one killer of children and young adults,” said Dr. Robert Conn, President and CEO of SMARTRISK. “Injuries cost Canadians an estimated $14.7 billion every year in health care expenses and lost productivity. This makes it the fourth highest burden on the health care system.”
The study, for which IBC contributed $700,000, calls for a National Injury Prevention Strategy. The strategy would involve the creation of the Injury Prevention Centre of Canada, which would collect data and research, and help communities and governments implement effective, evidence-based strategies to reduce injury.
Did you know?
Excerpted from a recent IBC and SMARTRISK news release dated October 25, 2005. To obtain a copy of the study, visit www.timeforaction.ca. To learn more about SMARTRISK or IBC visit www.smartrisk.ca or www.ibc.ca.
The front and back of an awareness-building postcard about the new booster seat legislation. Produced by the Ontario government.
In September, the Ontario government’s Bill 73 came into effect to enhance the safety of Ontario children. The legislation encompasses three areas of improving child safety:
Child Booster Seat and Child Restraints
The new child booster seat and child restraint legislation indicates booster seats are now required for children under the age of eight, weighing between 18 kg and 36 kg (40-80 lbs) and who stand less than 145 cm (4” 9’) tall. A child can only begin using a seatbelt alone once any one of the following criteria is met:
School Bus Safety
When School Bus Safety Week kicked off in Ontario on October 17, motorists were warned to expect hefty fines should they illegally pass a stopped school bus.
The Week was based on the current legislation (Bill 73) in place to protect the 800,000 children that catch school buses each day. Having come into effect on September of this year, the strict legislation allows for owner liability and fines up to $2,000 for those who are charged with illegally passing a stopped school bus.
Graduated Licensing System
Legislation was passed in April 2004 stating that the number of young passengers that teen G2 drivers can carry is limited from midnight to 5 a.m. After the first six months of licensing, and until the G2 driver earns a full G licence or turns 20, he/she can only carry three passengers aged 19 or under.
Bernard Moyle, Fire Marshal of Ontario pulls the first prize ballot winner. The $1,000 prize went to St. Joseph Elementary School in Mississauga.
As part of Fire Prevention Week 2005, over one million students and teachers from over 2,100 schools across Ontario made history on October 12 in the first ever province-wide fire drill. The “School’s Out…Safely Out!” fire drill was organized by the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and challenged every elementary school principal in Ontario to conduct one of their provincially mandated fire drills to increase fire safety among children and their families.
“The fire drill was a great way to get kids across the province thinking about fire safety,” said Bernard Moyle, Fire Marshal of Ontario and Chair of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council.
Of the Ontario schools that participated, three were awarded individual cash prizes for their efforts in the fire drill. First prize of $1,000 went to St. Joseph Elementary School in Mississauga, Riverside Secondary School in Windsor received the second prize of $500 and third prize went to St. Joseph Catholic School in Grimsby which received $250. Organizers are also compiling the information from the province-wide fire drill to be sent to Guinness World Records for the World’s Largest Fire Drill record.
Richmond Hill firefighting crew supports Risk Watch by partnering with Wal-Mart for a BBQ.
Wal-Mart and the Town of Richmond Hill Fire Department, recently teamed up to raise funds for their community Risk Watch program.
The day started off with Wal-Mart donating $500 to establish the fundraiser. The donation covered the cost of the food and the barbecues. Equipped with flippers and tongs, the fire crew cooked up a storm for Wal-Mart customers. In a few hours, the crew had raised $1000! At the end of the day, Wal-Mart matched the total by giving the crew another $1000.
Fourteen elementary schools in Richmond Hill currently use the Risk Watch program and the money raised will go toward purchasing more Risk Watch educational tools for teachers.
Wal-Mart has agreed to make this Risk Watch fundraiser an annual event.
Last winter, the Lambton Safe Community Council (LSCC) conducted an online and telephone survey for their Risk Watch program.
Partners who participate on the Lambton Safe Community Council, to offer the Risk Watch program, include the County of Lambton Community Health Services department, Sarnia and the Township of St. Clair Fire & Rescue departments, the Lambton Kent District School Board and the Township of St. Clair Catholic School Board. The objective of the survey was to analyze the Risk Watch resources, lesson plans, delivery and effectiveness of the program, and to obtain improvement suggestions from local teachers.
Summary of findings:
Methodology
Lambton Safe Community Council contacted 100 local teachers that have used the Risk Watch program via email requesting information for the Risk Watch survey, with a specific request for Pre- and Post- Test student results. The email advised the teachers that the Council would be contacting some of them to briefly discuss their implementation of the Risk Watch program.
A list of three ‘high use’ and three ‘low use’ schools were determined from previous Risk Watch workshop data, and offered a broad spectrum of Risk Watch use. Teachers from these six elementary schools were targeted for teacher interviews (either one-on-one interviews with ‘high use’ teachers and phone interviews with ‘low use’ teachers).
The Risk Watch survey was comprised of 18 questions which were used in all teacher interviews to obtain information on Risk Watch resources, lesson plans, delivery and effectiveness of the program, and to obtain improvement suggestions.
In addition to the answers to the survey questions, verbatim feedback was also recorded. Some verbatim responses include:
“This program stands out among the others because all the visual aids are supplied in this kit and are ready at hand. I don’t have to go searching to find things to enhance my lesson – they are right there.”
“One student claimed he used his newly learned rescue service and procedures at a public pool.”
“I’m amazed how the Risk Watch team has thought of everything – it’s fantastic.”
“We had the students observe recess behaviour and challenge their peers by asking them, ‘Is that safe?’”
Conclusions
Based on the survey answers and the verbatim responses, the Risk Watch program is being used and enjoyed by the elementary teachers and students of Lambton County. The majority of responses to the survey questions were positive. However, more attention must be yielded toward how teachers can effectively use the Risk Watch In Action programming and Resource Manual. Teachers also reinforced the value of the program being in French and modified for students with special needs.
For information about the survey conducted by the Lambton Safe Community Council, contact Rob Cairns in Sarnia at 519-337-8251 x5143.
The Ontario Injury Compass, produced by SMARTRISK recently reported that falling or being thrown from a bicycle is the most common type of cycling injury.
The injury type represents 60 per cent of all Ontarians hospitalized with a cycling injury.
Four recommendations to manage the risk of bicycling, while still having fun and keeping active:
Excerpted from Ontario Injury Compass, Vol 2. Issue 5. To read more, visit www.smartrisk.ca.
SMARTRISK kicked off their learning series this fall with a session hosted by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, a professor of thermo physiology at the University of Manitoba and an expert in cold-water survival.
The main focus of the session entitled ‘Keep your head up…’ was on cold water immersion and ‘near drowning’. It provided an update on survival techniques and strategies for victims of long-term submersion in cold water.
SMARTRISK’S Director of Research and Evaluation Phil Groff said the number of drownings in Canada had been relatively consistent in recent years but were still of concern given, for the majority of the year, Canadian waters are cooler than 20 degrees Celsius. Therefore, these waters still have the potential for cold shock.
The session was primarily for those involved in rescue patrols, but also others who may have been interested in learning more about the safety issue.
For more information on the tips devised by Dr. Giesbrecht visit www.smartrisk.ca.
A snapshot of the Risk Watch booth at the annual Lindsay Fair. Photo courtesy of Karen Cook, Chair, Risk Watch Coalition, Kawartha Lakes.
September is the month of the year with the highest rate of playground injuries. In response, Child Safety Link, which is a Maritime-wide children’s injury prevention program, released a 12-page parent’s guide to playground safety.
The guide is based on 1998-2002 data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) who found most playground injuries (34%) happen at school and during the month of September. Other findings include:
An estimated 28,500 children are treated for playground-related injuries each year.
The majority of children hurt are aged between five and nine years of age.
Fractures of shoulders and arms (37%) are the most common injuries.
Falls are the most common cause of playground injuries.
To download a copy of the guide or to get more information, visit
www.childsafetylink.ca/safetyinfo-playground.asp.
Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental (preventable) death among Ontario children under five years of age, according to data released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
Children under the age of five are involved in more drowning or near-drowning incidents than those in any other age group, at a rate of 5.24 per 100,000 population, more than four times the rate for those over the age of 19. The second most at-risk age group is that of children aged five to nine years of age, with a rate of 4.12 per 100,000 population.
Excerpted from a recent Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) news release dated July 20, 2005.
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