Canadians participate in a wide range of physical and recreational activities, each with their own set of safety concerns. Canada Safety Council provides advice and safety tips on how to keep safe as you go about your active lifestyle.
Canadian weather has a way of tending to the extremes. Traditionally (and perhaps stereotypically), the country is associated with extreme cold, ice and wintery conditions. However, the summers can be just as intense and come with a unique set of circumstances that...
Starting out Make sure your child's bike and helmet are the right size. He or she should be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground; a bike that is too big or too small is a safety hazard. As a minimum, your child's first bike should be equipped with a...
Snowmobiling has become a very popular winter sport for Canadians. There are currently over 700,000 registered snowmobiles in Canada and over 125,000 kilometres of snowmobile trails. Every year people are injured and killed while participating in a pastime that should...
A playground should be a place where children can play and have fun, not a place where serious injuries occur. Some of these tragedies can be attributed to deliberate misuse of the equipment, poorly maintained equipment or having no parental supervision. Most injuries...
Trampolines are springing up as play equipment in back yards across Canada. School aged children love them. Jumping is exhilarating – and it looks easy. With concerns of today’s children not being as active as they should, their enthusiasm for the sport is...
Expect the Unexpected Before you set out, try to imagine what conditions you might face. How would you survive if something goes wrong? Even on a short trip, you might need to spend the night— and the weather could deteriorate. How would you get help if you become...
Canada’s most universally accessible health and fitness facility is the great outdoors. Educating young people to be active in that environment promotes a healthy lifestyle. A few tragic field trip incidents have led some to believe that outdoor recreational outings...
Downhill skiing and snowboarding are widely popular winter sports, but they can also be dangerous sports if safety precautions aren’t taken. According to the Canadian Ski Council report, 2007-2008 Canadian Skier and Snowboarder Facts and Stats, there are now over four...
Ride off-road only, never on public roads. Know your owner's manual. Wear your helmet. Protect your eyes and body. Check the ATV before you ride. Ride with others - never alone. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding passengers and recommended age for...
One of the most common in-line skating related injuries are broken arms and wrists. Skaters often try to break their fall by extending their arms to the front, side or behind them. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as many as two-thirds of in-line...
Camping, cottaging and meals on the barbecue are Canada's summertime passions. In addition, more and more Canadians travel by RV during the summer. Propane is the energy source that often powers these activities. It is versatile, economical and safe, and can be taken...
We Canadians pride ourselves on our ability to cope with our severe winters. But we forget that the cold can and does kill. The dangers become all too clear when there is a disaster, and unprepared people become stranded or fall into cold water. Hypothermia, sometimes...
Outdoor physical activity can be healthy, fun and safe if you remain protected. Follow the Canada Sun Guide, created by Canada Safety Council and other partners, to help Canadians combine sun safety with outdoor activities. Minimize Sun Exposure Schedule outdoor...
A variety of innovative motorized conveyances are being marketed in Canada. A few are roadworthy motor vehicles. Some are toys or recreational equipment. Others fall into the personal transportation category. Fun and excitement attract the younger set to motorized...
This archived article is from April 2004. Although every effort has been made to make sure the information presented is accurate, please note that it may contain information that is out-of-date. Freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers cover nine per cent of Canada’s total...