Category: Safety at home & in the community

Operation Red Nose volunteers drive motorists home in their own cars during the holiday season. An average of 55,000 volunteers across the country give 80,000 rides home from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31. In BC, during the weekend of Nov. 25 to 27, 1,374 motorists used it.

“Do you really need to go?” That’s the first question to ask ourselves before we drive in harsh winter weather, according to the folks behind the Shift Into Winter campaign in BC.

Making a construction worker costume for Halloween is not only fun for kids, it’s also a chance for parents to gently introduce the importance of personal protective equipment.

I will join hundreds of thousands of my fellow British Columbians at 10:20 a.m. on October 20, 2011 to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” during the Great British Columbia ShakeOut. This annual event will be held the third Thursday of October.

Here in Vancouver BC, more than 3,500 cyclists commute to work downtown every morning. A video from the bigger city of Boston shows how they deal with the combo of cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers.

I notice them around this time of year, as school goes back after the summer – kids laden down with much more than I ever had to carry. Sadly, this can lead to chronic back problems later in life, so if you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, please remember that kids should not be expected to carry more than 10 to 15 percent of their own body-weight in backpacks.

People who work with the public are exposed to everyone’s cold and flu. Couriers are at risk of infection when they touch letters and packages from sick people, as a bike courier posted on Facebook recently. She described the inconsiderate behaviour of a customer.

Four pedestrians were killed and three were seriously injured by cars in Vancouver within 10 days this summer. So far in 2011 (seven months into the year) there have been 12 pedestrian fatalities. In all of 2010, nine pedestrians were killed.

When you enter the “Cone Zone,” you should reduce your speed, pay attention, and be respectful of the roadside workers and their workplace. That’s the message from Work Zone Safety Alliance.

Hey Beatles fans! It’s one of the most common reminders we’ve heard since childhood – and how we’re reminded it’s the best way to prevent the spread of disease: “Wash your hands!” Ontario’s Brant Community Healthcare System gives new life to this age-old message with this funny music video.