FORT FRANCES—May 26-June 2 has been deemed “Safe Kids Week” across Canada—a campaign held to raise public awareness of children’s safety issues.
The theme this year is focusing on pedestrian safety and, as in past years, activities are being held locally to help children learn about staying safe.
Anne Marie Armstrong, Aboriginal Healthy Babies Health Children program co-ordinator with the Sunset Country Métis, planned several educational activities in partnership with Christine Badiuk of the Best Start Hub’s outreach program and the Northwestern Health Unit.
They started off the week on Monday by having children at the “Kids Being Kids” program at the Métis Hall act out a series of traffic situations to learn the rules of the road.
“Our intent is to make the kids aware,” Armstrong stressed. “And we have to look at it through the eyes of the children.
“When they are getting ready to cross the street, they don’t see the things we see.”
She noted, for instance, that most children don’t stop at back lanes. And often, due to trees and other obstructions, drivers may not see pedestrians.
“That is something we’re trying to educate the children about—the car can’t always see you,” Armstrong said. “And kids think that cars don’t go as fast as they seem to.”
Armstrong and Badiuk had some of the children ride tricycles and toy cars to simulate drivers on the road while other youngsters acted as pedestrians or displayed the road signs.
They were taught what to do at traffic lights, stop signs, and railroad crossings—and how to proceed safely.
The second event for “Safe Kids Week” here is a community walk-about, which will take place tomorrow morning (Thursday).
“We are going for a walk to see how safe our area is for pedestrians,” Armstrong explained.
Everyone is invited to bring their children, along with strollers and wagons, on the walk, which begins at the Métis Hall at 9 a.m.
Then at 10:30 a.m., CN Police Cst. Pete LeDrew will offer a presentation on railroad safety in regards to being a pedestrian.
A pizza lunch will follow.
Those interested in participating in the community walk-about are asked to contact Armstrong (274-1386) or Badiuk (274-8588) to register.
Other initiatives throughout the week are the Pace Car Program and information on car seat safety.
The Pace Car Program helps communities with safety and hazards associated with speeding vehicles and unsafe driving.
“Basically, you sign a pledge form saying that you are going to drive at a safe speed or, where there are pedestrians, be more cautious,” Armstrong noted, adding those who sign the pledges can display the emblems on their vehicles.
“It makes people more aware that kids are out there on the road and we should all be driving safely,” she explained.
Armstrong also has DVDs available with information on car seat safety. “It’s a really good resource for new parents,” she said.
In addition, Armstrong said although the community is generally safe, this week is meant to look at what else we can do to make it safer for children, as well as make children and parents more aware of the dangers and hazards of being pedestrians.
“Pedestrian injuries are the third-leading cause of injury-related death for children under the age of 14,” she stressed. “We need to find solutions to reduce child pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
“And we can start by education.”
Data reviewed by Safe Kids Canada indicates a staggering 2,412 children are seriously injured each year in pedestrian accidents and about 30 are killed.
The average child pedestrian who is killed in Canada is male, between the ages of 10 and 14, and was crossing the street at an intersection within five km of their home.
Most incidents occur between 3-6 p.m. when many Canadians are driving home from work.
Safe Kids Week is a national education campaign presented by Safe Kids Canada with sponsor support from Johnson & Johnson.
Some of the past topics have included bike safety and drowning prevention.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
