Safe Kids Week is May 4-10, 2015, which is an annual public awareness campaign designed to raise awareness about the frequency and severity of preventable childhood injuries, the leading cause of death amongst Canadian children.
United Nations Global Road Safety Week
This year the focus of Safe Kids Week is on road safety, which aligns with the United Nations Global Road Safety Week’s #SaveKidsLives campaign. To support the campaign, sign the declaration.
By signing the Declaration you are helping to:
- call for action to stop the growing number of road deaths worldwide
- ask decision makers to save kids’ lives by putting road safety in place
- support the movement for road safety led by children around the world
Statistics
Each year over 186,300 children lose their lives in traffic crashes globally. In London and Middlesex, Motor-vehicle collisions are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related hospitalizations and deaths (Middlesex-London Health Unit) and are the #1 cause of injury-related deaths among children and youth in Canada (Infant and Toddler Safety Association).
Head injuries are the number 1 cause of serious injury and death to kids on bicycles, yet these injuries are predictable and preventable.
Areas of Focus
- Helmet safety
- Safe Road Users – as motorists, cyclists and pedestrians
- Parents as role models and influencers
Throughout May and June 2015, we’re highlighting the importance of injury prevention in young children, particularly children under the age of 3. The campaign will also highlight road safety awareness and choking prevention in this highly vulnerable population.
Child Helmet and Road Safety Contest
In addition to increasing awareness throughout the community, parents and caregivers can enter the Child Helmet and Road Safety Contest. Enter the contest and your family could win free bicycle helmets!
How to enter the contest
- Complete the online quiz
- Visit a Well Baby/Child and Breastfeeding Clinic between May and June 2015 and complete the questionnaire (print version).
Winners
- Winners will be randomly selected from two draws.
- The first draw will take place at the end of May 2015. The winner will be contacted by early June 2015.
- The second draw will take place at the end of June 2015. The winner will be contacted in mid-July 2015.
Prize
- Bicycle helmets for your family (adults and children living in the same household)
Choking Prevention Tubes
Free choking prevention tubes are available for parents and caregivers of young children (0-3 years old), which are used to test small toys and other objects for choking hazards.
To request a free choking prevention tube:
- Visit a Well Baby/Child and Breastfeeding Clinic
- Email: childsafety@mlhu.on.ca
- Call: Health Connection at 519-850-2280 (Monday – Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Additional Information and Links
- Child Safety
- Helmets and Road Safety
- Choking Prevention
- Car Seat Safety
- Parachute Canada
- #SaveKidsLives Campaign
- Safe Start Videos
- Safety Never Hurts Newsletter
References
Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU). (2012c). Middlesex-London Community Health Status Resource: Figure 5.4: hospitalizations and death for leading causes of unintentional injury. Retrieved from http://communityhealthstats.healthunit.com/chart/leading-causes-unintentional-injury/figure-54-hospitalizations-and-death-leading-causes
Infant and Toddler Safety Association (2013). Before you turn the key: Everything you wanted to know about transporting young children, but didn’t know you needed to ask. Kitchener, ON: The Infant and Toddler Safety Association.