March Break Safety Tips to Meet the Top Priority: Having Fun!
By: Natasha Dood-Persaud, Oatley Vigmond
School’s out! For one week at least. As a student through elementary and high school, March Break was an exciting time, providing a healthy break from classes and marking the beginning of sunnier, warmer Spring days.
However, in Ontario, Spring time often comes with fluctuating weather and overnight thaw-freeze cycles, which can cause various hazards outdoors, including on our sidewalks, driveways, roads, trails and bodies of water, as rain and snow inevitably form into ice and slush. Because having fun is the top priority, a few safety tips should be kept in mind to ensure this priority is met.
Going into another March Break, it is always helpful to remind our children, caretakers and community of the increase of possible dangers in order to aim for a safer week. For instance, as drivers we should be mindful of an increased presence of children and teenagers on the roads and sidewalks who may take advantage of the warmer weather temperatures to play outdoors. Drivers should take extra care to observe speed limits in residential communities and give ample space to pedestrian minors. Remember that behind every soccer ball, basketball or hockey puck that makes itself unto the roadway, there can be a child chasing after it.
Many families also take advantage of the kids’ time off and make plans for the March Break, including short day trips or longer road trips. In preparing for the road, drivers will want to remember the increased likelihood of rain or freezing rain and formations of black ice. Making appropriate plans ahead, keeping an eye on weather forecasts and ensuring your vehicle is equipped with an emergency kit are all precautions that can help prevent any ‘bumps’ that could be encountered along the way.
While understandably eager to explore the outdoors after this year’s Winter, children should also be cautioned about watching their step and being aware of their surroundings. Icicles or sheets of ice often form on roofs, tree branches and other tall structures may melt and fall during the daytime. This is important to keep in mind when visiting neighbourhood trails or playing in the backyard. The same can occur on outdoor playgrounds, creating slippery handle bars and steps.
Similarly, the same bodies of water that were frozen over the Winter, with ice that was probably thick and safe enough to walk on, might have begun to thaw, even if not noticeable. Also, with warmer weather comes rising water levels and an increase in water flow. Children should avoid venturing near rivers, creeks and lakes at this time of year, especially if unsupervised.
The tips included in this article are commonly recommended by police authorities and school organizations. They do not constitute legal advice. If your March Break plans are different than those discussed here, always consider taking a moment to review safety tips related to your plans.
We wish everyone a wonderful March Break and safe return to school. Remember kids — just a few more months before Summer vacation!
Oatley Vigmond is a proud member of the Personal Injury AllianceTM (PIA Law).
PIA Law was formed more than a decade ago by three of Canada’s leading personal injury law firms — Oatley Vigmond, McLeish Orlando, and Thomson Rogers — with the goal of providing unparalleled legal representation to accident victims and their families.
Lawyers at all three firms have in-depth experience with the specific challenges facing children who have been catastrophically injured, and we are committed to ensuring that young clients have access to all of the resources they will need to reach their full potential. Our lawyers work closely with parents and health care specialists to understand a child’s current and future needs, and to obtain a fair settlement that will provide the appropriate financial supports to meet those needs.
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