A32 FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016, TRI-CITY NEWS
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SAFE KIDS WEEK
Keep windows secure, warns BCEHS 15 children per year sustain injuries from falls
B.C. Children’ Hospital and B.C. Emergency Health Services are wrapping up Safe Kids Week by reminding parents and caregivers to make sure their windows and balconies are safe and secure. Every year, paramedics respond to approximately 15 medical emergencies involving young children with injuries related to falls from a window or balcony. Already this year, at least five children have been treated at various B.C. hos-
THINKSTOCK
B.C. Emergency Health Services says approximately 15 medical emergencies involving young children occur each year related to falls from a window or balcony. pitals after being injured this way. “The injuries associated
with window falls can be devastating,” said Dr. Ash Singhal, pediatric neurosurgeon
and medical director, B.C. Children’s Hospital Trauma Program. “We see broken limbs, skull fractures and brain injuries that can cause life-long problems for children.” Children are especially vulnerable to falls because they are curious, they love to climb and often don’t recognize when they are putting themselves at risk. Even small children are capable of pushing open an unlocked window and toddlers, who have a higher centre of gravity, can easily fall headfirst through a window screen if they lean against it. “A few simple actions can make a home more secure for children and prevent devastat-
ing falls,” said BCEHS paramedic Marilyn Oberg. “Parents and caregivers should consider installing window and door safety locks, which limit how wide they can open. This is a simple and effective measure to help keep children safe during the warm spring and summer months.”
OTHER TIPS
• Don’t underestimate a child’s mobility — children begin climbing before they can walk. • Move household items away from windows to discourage children from climbing to peer out. • Be aware that window
screens will not prevent children from falling through — they keep bugs out, not children in. • Install window guards on windows above the ground level. These act as a gate in front of the window. • Or, fasten the windows, so that they cannot open more than 10 cm. • Children can fit through spaces as small as 12 cm wide. In either case, ensure there is a safe release option in case of a house fire. • Don’t leave children unattended on balconies or decks. Move furniture or planters away from the edges as kids can climb up and over.
Terry Fox Secondary Class of 2016
THANKS The parents and students of the Terry Fox Secondary Class of 2016 would like to express our sincere appreciation to the many generous sponsors, businesses and individuals who kindly supported us throughout this year and helped to make our After Grad on May 28th an overwhelming success.
We are grateful for your sponsorships and donations of food, services and prizes, especially as we know you are approached daily by every school, team and event in our neighbourhood. We hope we have taught our kids to recognize and respect this and they will one day be as supportive of the youth in their communities as you have been to them. We also thank our neighbours, friends and families and Terry Fox Secondary staff for kindly buying our raffle tickets, attending our fundraisers and dropping off empties to the Bottle drive. Events like
After Grads are only possible with significant community support and we are truly grateful. It means so much that as a group we were able to honour and contribute to three causes dear to our hearts – The Legacy Project Syrian Refugee Education Fund, the Fox Family Foundation in memory of our hero and namesake’s father Mr. Rolly Fox and to the memorial bursary established by the parents of our beloved friend, peer and team-mate Cole Marsh; forever a Raven, forever a Saint and going for Gold with Team BC.
Please remember these businesses when you are out in the community. OUR SINCERE THANKS TO: Able Concrete Inc Alba Soccer Academy Anchor Bay Consulting Angelo’s Salon Anton’s Pasta Aran Orthodontics Art Knapps Avon - Joanne Yates Climb Base 5 Bikram Yoga Black & Lee Blend Bubble Tea Boston Pizza Branded Athletics Brian A. Shaw Inc. Burke Beer House Capilano Suspension Bridge Caps Westwood cycle
Clifton Philpott Photography Cobs Sunwood Square Colours Coquitlam Centre Coquitlam Chrysler CUPE - Local 561 De Dutch Diana Medeiros Dominos Pizza Douglas College Earls Restaurant ECCW Wrestling EPR Coquitlam Fitness Town Float House Flyover Canada Ginza Sushi Harbour Cruises
Harmony Massage Therapy Helijet Hodgeys Electrical Things James Dale & Carol Wilson Keller Williams Elite Realty Kelly Yates Ken Gollner PREC Royal Lepage Sterling Realty Little Ceasars Pizza Lolita Wittur Maria Phillips McDonald’s Dominion Menchies PoCo Me-n-Eds Mike Farnworth, MLA Millenium Meats Mollie’s Mini Donuts Move Athletics Inc Orrange
Oxygen Yoga & Fitness Pacific Coastal Airlines Panago Pizza Pappa Leo’s Pizza Petland Pitt Meadows Gold Club Pitt Meadows Orthodontics PoCo Saints PoCo Minor Hockey Assoc. Port Coquitlam Animal Hospital Redden Net - Greg Firth Safeway Samz Pub Save-on-Foods Ottawa Science World Splashdown Waterpark Starbucks -Ottawa St Starbucks - Freemont St
Subway Prairie Sunscape Tanning Studios Susan Wong Tellier Photography TFS Year Book Committee The BBQ Shop The Dog Patch Tim Horton’s Tocara- Leanne Carder Tosuta Visions Westcoast Express Westland Insurance Group Westwood Cycle Westwood Printing Wrigleys