Did You Know?: Summer Heat Safety

Most of Ontario is experiencing its first heat wave of the year and the Canadian Red Cross is encouraging residents to stay safe whether it’s in the warm sun or cooling off in the water.

Many groups are vulnerable to the heat, including the elderly, young children, and those who work, exercise and live outdoors. A few hours in the high temperatures can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. For those who do not have air conditioning, the Red Cross recommends going to a local shopping mall or library to take a break from the heat.

The Canadian Red Cross also has the following tips to help individuals stay safe during extreme heat:

Avoid being outdoors in the hottest part of the day.  If you must go out, try to do so in the early morning or later evening hours when the sun is not as strong, work and exercise in brief periods, take frequent breaks, dress in light, loose clothing, wear a hat and drink plenty of cool fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Did You Know?: Lifejackets

Canadian Red Cross drowning research shows that almost all boaters who drown were not wearing a lifejacket or not wearing it properly.

People offer many excuses for not wearing lifejackets such as “it’s too nice out”, “I’m close to shore,” and “I’m a good swimmer.” Strong swimming skills are not enough.  Like your car seatbelt, your lifejacket will only work if you wear it.

Every year, almost 200 Canadians drown while boating. Of these, nearly 90 per cent, are not wearing a lifejacket, or do not have it properly secured. The Canadian Red Cross encourages all boaters, at all skill levels, and in all kinds of watercrafts, to drop the excuses.  Make sure that everyone in the family is zipped and clipped into their lifejacket before you step foot in a boat. 

Lifejackets have come a long way in recent years.  Today’s lifejackets are comfortable and stylish, and are even designed for specific activities including water skiing, fishing, kayaking and rafting.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Did You Know?: Workplace First Aid Kits

WSIB regulation 1101 lists the items that must be included in the first aid boxes in workplaces of different sizes and types. The quantities of any item specified may be increased to suit the needs of a particular workplace. Personal protective equipment (for example a masks and gloves) as specified by your first aid training should also be included in the first aid box. Equipment outside the scope of first aiders, equipment that may deteriorate or that is potentially dangerous (for example medication and ointments) should not be included in the first aid box. The regulations also require that the boxes and their contents be checked regularly, minimum four times per year, to ensure that everything is in good order.

A copy of regulation 1101 can be obtained electronically at:

http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/LookupFiles/DownloadableFileRegulation1101/$File/FAEng.pdf

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Did You Know?: Car Seats and Booster Seats

Car seats and booster seats are essential for the safety of children and youth and are required by law in Ontario. The best information can be found at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation website. The following information is summarized from their website.

Infants from birth to 9kg (20lb) must in a rear facing seat and away from an active airbag. Toddlers from 9 to 18kg (20 – 40 lb) must be in a forward facing seat and a tether strap must be used to secure the seat. Booster seats are required for children under the age of eight, weighing 18 kg or more but less than 36 kg (40-80 lb.) and who stand less than 145 cm (4 feet-9 inches) tall. Children under 13 years of age are safest in the back seat. Never put two children in the same seatbelt or place the shoulder strap behind the child's back.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

To Help or Not to Help

Many people say that they do not want to provide first aid to someone in need because they believe that only those trained in first aid can help others. While it is recommended that everyone receive first aid training, if a person’s life is in danger any assistance is better than none. As long as the assistance is offered voluntarily and the first aider is not trying to wilfully hurt the other person Ontario’s Good Samaritan Act is designed to protect the first aider. Even the use of an Automated External Defibrillator is now covered under Ontario’s Good Samaritan Act. So someone with no previous training could take a unit of the wall and use it and they are protected by the law. In fact this simple act has saved many lives.

So what should you do? Ideally find a recognized first aid course and get yourself trained but even if an incident should happen before you get trained go ahead and help. You can save a life.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Spring Road Safety

With the arrival of spring and the swift departure of snow, we are seeing more and more activity on our streets as the cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers are coming out of their hibernation. As our streets get busier the chances of collisions between vehicles and cyclists and others increase. In addition many streets still have stones and pebbles that can cause additional falls and injuries.

Injury prevention is important. Following the rules of the road for your sport will help keeping everyone safe. Everyone needs to share the road.

Wearing the appropriate gear will keep the cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers safe. Although in Ontario only those under 18 are required to wearing helmets they are recommended for all. Skateboarders and rollerbladers should also wear knee, wrist and elbow pads. All it takes is an instant of distraction and an injury can result.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Winter Water Safety

Every year at this time we are reminded of the dangers of thin ice on our lakes and rivers. Both vehicles and people fall through ice that only days before could support them. Should you fall through thin remember the following: Remain calm (although this can sometimes be the hardest step), if possible remove heavy clothing that may pull you under, move to the side closest to land and kick your legs while you pull yourself up. If the ice continues to break keep kicking since you are still making progress. Once you are on the ice stay low and crawl off the ice. Remember that hypothermia (the lowering of the body temperature) occurs quicker if you are wet. Seek warmth as soon as possible and do not go back on the ice to retrieve anything.

If you see someone fall through the ice, first call 911 and they try and throw something to them and pull them out of the water. Only go the ice if absolutely necessary and then stay low so your weight is distributed over the ice. Remember that the ice closest to the hole will be fragile. Once the person is out of the water on land they need to re-warmed immediately. Get them inside, into dry clothes and near a heat source quickly.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.