Jun 16, 2010

It was a splendid summer morning and it seemed as if nothing could go wrong.
-- John Cheever

Unfortunately, as splendid as our summer mornings here in Toronto and the surrounding area are, many things can go wrong! Aside from the usual car accidents and pedestrian accidents, we now have an influx of cyclists, tourists, open swimming pools…the list goes on and on.

Some new initiatives have come about:

• As of May 1, 2010 CAA decided to expand its membership and offer “Bike Assist”; roadside assistance for cyclists.
• On June 8, 2010, Allstate Insurance announced an incentive program to discourage teenagers from texting while driving. Their catch phrase is “Texting while driving means more OMGs than LOLs. Drop the Phone. Grab the Wheel. Take the Pledge.” This Action Against Distraction Campaign entices young drivers by offering them the chance to win a brand new iPAD.

We have had an interesting year in Toronto and the GTA. In January and February, we had an extraordinary amount of pedestrian deaths. Lest we forget, the pedestrian accidents and deaths have been ongoing in the past couple of months.

In May, we have seen young children drowning in pools (in their own backyards) as well as toddlers who were run over while playing on their driveways.

A 2 year old boy was killed in the driveway of his Markham home, by his own mother on May 4, 2010. A 2 year old girl in Hamilton was killed a mere 2 weeks later in a driveway mishap. Her grandmother accidentally backed over her with a mini-van. In both cases, no charges were laid. A week later, there was an 18 month-old Moncton girl who was run over by a truck, in a driveway by a family member.

In the United States, there are approximately 48 children injured and 2 killed by back-overs every week. More often than not, the driver is a parent, sibling, grandparent or relative.

What can account for these horrible, tragic events? People are still not paying attention!

Do you know where your children, grandchildren are when you are backing out of the driveway? Do you drive a large vehicle like an SUV or a van? Did you know that the larger, wider and longer the vehicle, the larger the blind zone?

There are simple ways to reduce driveway danger:

1. Take the time to slow down; do not press hard on the gas pedal when you back out of the driveway.
2. Check for a clear path before entering your car, once the car is started, and while backing out.
3. Back your car into the driveway when you are finished driving.
4. If you drive an SUV, opt for a vehicle with a built-in back up camera, to help eliminate the big blind spot in the rear.
5. Be conscious of where your children are, and their proximity to your vehicle.

According to CBC News, drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death among young children in Ontario, after motor vehicle accidents.

In April, a Quebec toddler fell into his family’s backyard pool and was in critical condition. He was found submerged in the pool without any vital signs. In late May, a four year old Brampton girl drowned in a backyard pool. She was in the water for several minutes before someone spotted her. Less than a week later she was taken off of life support after being deemed brain-dead.

The morbid reality is that children under five can drown after tripping into as little as a few centimetres of water. One in four children who experience a near-drowning experience can suffer permanent brain damage. Hypoxia and lung damage can also occur. Most injuries were sustained during the summer months.

Here are some ways to encourage pool safety:

1. Supervision should be constant and vigilant!
2. Be available, and do not leave the pool area without ensuring adequate supervision.
3. Verify that all access points to the pool (patio doors etc) are locked.
4. Backyard pools, both in-ground and inflatable types should be contained by fencing and a gate, to be locked at all times.
5. Have a separate gated area for the pool itself.
6. Children under three should have on life jackets or personal floatation devices.
7. Keep a rope or a buoy nearby.
8. Keep toys, particularly bicycles away from the pool so children are not enticed to enter the area.
9. Keep patio equipment and furniture away from the pool and from the gates.
10. Be trained in CPR and First Aid.

Let’s hope that we can take these small steps towards securing the safety of children.

It takes a village to raise a child… and a community to keep the child safe.

By: Melanie Luxenberg, Law Clerk, Gluckstein & Associates LLP