Spotlight on Safe Kids Canada/Sécuri Jeunes Canada

Safe Kids Canada/Sécuri Jeunes Canada launched in 1992. Headquartered in Toronto, it is dedicated to leading and inspiring a culture of safety across the country in order to reduce unintentional injuries, the leading cause of death among children and youth in Canada. In 2002, Safe Kids Canada became a member of Safe Kids Worldwide.

As a national leader, Safe Kids Canada uses a multifaceted health promotion approach to increase knowledge, influence attitudes and motivate change in order to keep kids safe. By building partnerships and using a comprehensive approach, Safe Kids Canada works to advance safety and reduce the burden of injuries to Canada’s children and youth.

Working with over 1,800 partners nationally, Safe Kids Canada educates parents on major causes of injury and death and the simple measures available to protect their children. Safe Kids Canada’s programs cover risk areas such as drowning, road safety, home safety and poison prevention.

Programs of Safe Kids Canada include:

• Safe Kids Week

Ethno-Cultural Program

• Pedestrian Safety
• Rail Safety
• Home Safety

Highlight: 2010 Safe Kids Week - Got wheels? Get a helmet!

Safe Kids Canada’s annual national child injury prevention awareness campaign, Safe Kids Week 2010, will focus on the theme: Got wheels? Get a helmet! Head injuries are the leading cause of serious injury and death to kids on wheels. Even seemingly minor head injuries can result in permanent damage. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of head injuries while biking or participating in other wheeled sports is to wear a helmet.

More than 400 community partners across Canada will hold community activities such as helmet fitting events during Safe Kids Week (May 31 to June 5, 2010) to educate families on helmet safety. A national retail campaign has been created by sponsor Johnson & Johnson to support these education efforts.

A new Safe Kids Canada poll on helmet safety reveals that the majority of Canadians (81 percent) support legislation that mandates bicycle helmet use by children and adults riding on public roads. Both fathers (73 percent) and mothers (89 percent) show significant support of this legislation.

Currently in Canada, the provinces of Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Alberta and British Columbia have mandatory bicycle helmet legislation to protect children under 18. Safe Kids Canada believes there should be a unified approach to helmet use for all Canadian children. While helmet legislation for all ages is ideal, Safe Kids Canada advocates for helmet legislation that would protect children across the country.

Photos from the Event