Most of us who were raised in the great North have fond childhood memories of playing in the snow after a big winter storm. Now as parents we love seeing our children playing in the snow, cheeks rosy and pink, smiles wide, having a blast! We’re happy that our kids enjoy being active and creative outside for hours on end, particularly after being cooped up for days inside while a blizzard was raging. It is very important for all parents and caregivers to be aware of the potential hazards of snow play involving snow forts, tunnels and tall snow banks. Canadian health officials claim that at least one child suffocates each year after being trapped in a snow structure. The children are usually school-age and generally old enough to play outside by themselves. Children who suffocate in the snow are also often playing by themselves when they become trapped in a snow structure. Child Safety Link would like to remind parents and caregivers of the following tips that will help your children to be safe while they are having fun outside in these wintery conditions: ?
If children want to build snow structures in the yard, they should not make roofs or form a tunnel that could collapse on them.
Encourage them to have fun by being creative— perhaps they could make a house with walls (instead of a ceiling) and fill it with “snow furniture.” ?
Active supervision is important when young children are playing outside in the snow. School-aged children should play outside with a friend who could call for help if a situation arose. ?
Children should never play in or on snow banks that border roads, as snow plow operators and other drivers may not know there are children on/in them.
Children should keep well away from snowblowers (both the machine itself and the snow plume that is ejected from it), as well as snow plows.
Source Child Safety Link: www.childsafetylink.ca
