By meadowlakeNOW

Health Canada promotes home safety with handy booklet

Jul 20, 2018 | 6:00 PM

Along with summer comes fun times for the whole family but safety should always be top of mind, according to Health Canada.

Tracey Kennedy, a Saskatoon-based Consumer Product Safety Officer with the agency, works to promote a handbook called Is Your Child Safe? Play Time which is available online and in hard-copy at libraries and offices. It gives tips for being conscious about toys, playpens, playing indoors and outdoors as well as children-specific activities like crafts and costumes.

Kennedy said these things are good to be aware all year round, but the likelihood of incidents can increase in summer.

“Children learn through play, and summertime kids are out of school on family vacations,” Kennedy told meadowlakeNOW. “The booklet is just a way for parents and caregivers to assess their homes and see where could be risky areas, or where there could be hazards for children.”

She said another good idea is to actually get down on the floor to a child’s level to look for things like hanging cords, furniture, cabinets which could hold cleaning products, or even where toys are stored.

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“Looking at the environment through their lens is really important,” Kennedy said. “Children are creative, they’ll find ways, they’re naturally curious.”

As part of the organization’s regular outreach, Kennedy and her colleagues across the province and country frequently visit communities to speak or present to stakeholders, which include public health offices, early childhood agencies, fire departments, chambers of commerce, and fire departments to name a few. She will be in Meadow Lake next week meeting with a few local groups.

Health Canada consumer product safety staff also frequently ask consumers for feedback about products, and encourage the public to stay up-to-date on any recalls.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath