Topics A to Z

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

A

• Active Transportation
  Active transportation is any mode of getting from one place to another by using your own power, including...
• Age-horsepower Restrictions
  Youth under 16 years of age may not operate boats with motors over 40 horsepower unless someone 16 years of age or older is in the boat and directly supervising them...
• Allergen Labelling
  Read before you buy Allergens have always been included in the ingredient lists of prepackaged foods when used as primary ingredients, but sometimes they are exempt when used as components of ingredients...
• Allergies
  A food sensitivity is an adverse reaction to a food that other people can safely eat. Food sensitivities and include food allergies, food intolerances and chemical sensitivities.
• Autism and Vaccinations
  What is thimerosal? Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used in the manufacturing of multi-dose vaccines. It helps prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi and stabilizes vaccines so they remain effective over time.

B

• Baby Bottles and Pacifiers
  Discard baby bottle nipples that show signs of wear and tear: a child could choke on broken nipple pieces.
• Baby Slings and Carriers
  Keeping your baby close, comfy and safe Many parents use baby slings and carriers to carry their babies against their bodies. While having your child close to you may be practical, there are potential risks of injury and suffocation that...
• Batteries
  Help keep playtime safe: Store batteries in their original packaging and in a cool, dark place away from household chemicals and food.
• Boating Safety
  Just like driving a car, operating a boat takes skill, knowledge and careful attention...
• Bullying
  Bullying has had increasingly high profile in recent years as people have come to understand how deeply it can wound children...
• Bullying (Ages 4-11)
  The cycle of bullying often begins between the ages of four and 11 when children are forming their own social identities at school and through other activities...
• Bullying (Ages 12-17)
  As children get older, the type and range of bullying behaviour increases. While physical, psychological and social bullying happen among children as young as four, other bullying behaviour emerges as children move toward adolescence...
• Bullying Prevention Programs
  Canadian students suffer from bullying at school at rates and frequencies that cannot be ignored. The National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) is committed to providing information on school-based anti-bullying programs.

C

• Caffeinated Beverages & Energy Drinks
  Caffeine is found in a variety of products — not just coffee, tea, chocolate, cola and certain medications but also energy drinks and so-called energy shots. So how much caffeine is too much for kids?
• Car Restraints
  Make sure your child is buckled up properly in the car -- even on the shortest trips. That means using the right kind of children’s car seat.
  
• Celiac Disease
  Celiac disease — also called gluten-sensitive enteropathy — is an inherited condition triggered by eating cereal grains that contain gluten. If your child has celiac disease...
• Childhood Obesity
  Kids with excessive weight gain are at higher risk of developing a range of health problems in childhood and in later years.
• Choosing a Car Seat
  Don’t rush children from one stage of car seat to the next. Use what’s right for their height and weight.
• The Consumer role
  As a parent, the last thing you want to think is that food you serve your children could cause them harm. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) works with several government departments and agencies to help keep Canada's food supply safe.

D

• Drive Safe
  Canada has one of the best road safety records in the world. Year after year the number of vehicles and drivers in Canada increases...

E

• Eating Out
  Eating out with your family doesn’t have to mean you can’t eat well. Most cafeterias, fast food shops and restaurants offer healthy options: it’s all about making smart choices.
• Emergency Preparedness
  One of the fundamentals of emergency preparedness is "expect the unexpected." You can help ensure the safety of your family in an emergency by creating an emergency plan...

F

• Facts and Fictions
  Over the years, myths and misunderstandings have surrounded vaccines. Here are a few you should know the truth about...
• Fighting the Flu
  Washing hands often is the single most effective way for kids -- and adults! -- to stop the spread of contagious illnesses like the flu.
• Fitness Tax Credit
  Since 2007, a non-refundable tax credit has been available for eligible fitness expenses paid to register a child in a prescribed program of physical activity.
• Food
  Food is a big part of our daily lives, essential to our health and wellbeing. Learn more about the foods that are best for your children's growth and development—and how to handle and store them safely to prevent foodborne illnesses.
• Food Allergies and Intolerances
  Parents need to be alert to the risks of food allergies and intolerances -- for the safety of their own kids and others.
• Food Handling and Storage Tips
  Most cases of foodborne illnesses (food poisoning) are a direct result of improper food handling and storage. You can reduce the risk in your kitchen by following these food safety tips...
• Food Labelling
  Know what’s in your children’s food The labels on prepackaged foods can tell you a lot about what’s in them, their nutritional value and whether they pose any risk of allergic reactions.
• Food Recalls
  Food-borne illnesses can have serious consequences for children and adults alike. Keep your family as safe as possible by staying up to date on the latest food recalls...
• Food Safety
  The way we store, handle and prepare food at home plays a critical role in our families’ food safety.
• Food Safety During the Holidays
  One of the best parts about the holidays is having friends and family over to visit. By following these basic food safety tips, you can help make sure they return home happy and healthy.
• Food Temperature Guidelines
  Many cases of foodborne illness (otherwise known as 'food poisoning') could be prevented every year with one simple tool: a food thermometer. Cooking food kills harmful bacteria.
• Furniture and Television
  Young children may climb furniture to reach items on high shelves or in drawers. Climbing can cause furniture or televisions to tip over onto a child, causing serious injuries...

G

• General Tips (Physical Activity)
  According to the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, only 12% of Canadian children meet the physical activity targets for children and youth.
• General Toy Safety Tips
  Baby walkers are unsafe. They were banned from being sold in Canada in 2004 and should not be used by any child.
• Government’s Role in Addressing Childhood Obesity
  As with anti-tobacco efforts in recent decades, preventing childhood obesity is a long-term effort that will require the involvement of many sectors: the factors that contribute to young people becoming overweight and obese can’t be changed immediately...
• Guide to Healthy Pregnancy
  Pregnancy comes with many questions and concerns. Having accurate information is important.

H

• Halloween Food Safety
  All kids should be careful before eating trick-or-treat goodies at Halloween — especially those with allergies and sensitivities. Here are some key safety tips
• Healthy Eating Tips
  Every child requires a balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients for healthy growth and development.
• Healthy Pregnancy
  Congratulations! Happy babies start with a healthy pregnancy. Get reliable information you need.
• Helping Kids Cope When Emergencies Happen
  Emergencies can be very stressful. Children in particular can feel the stress deeply -- and may react in a number of different ways.
• Helping Kids Prepare for Emergencies
  Kids who are ready are kids who can cope Emergencies happen, and prepared children handle them best. Make sure your kids are ready to deal with potential emergencies by...
• Holiday Safety
  Holidays are busy and joyous times, but holiday routines give rise to greater safety hazards than usual.
• How to Read Food Date Labels and Packaging
  Information about dates on pre-packaged food is a valuable source of information. Here are some terms you should be familiar with...
• Hygiene
  A ‘handy’ way to stay healthy Help your children maintain proper hygiene to stay healthy and prevent unnecessary illness by getting them into the habit of washing their hands frequently and properly. When should kids (and grownups) wash their hands?

I

• Ice Safety
  Always inspect a frozen lake or pond before going out on it. Make sure you know where the ice is smooth and thick enough -- and where it isn’t.
• Immunization
  As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is have your child immunized against 13 vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Infant Botulism
  Infant botulism affects healthy babies under one year old. It’s caused by a food-poisoning bacterium called Clostridium botulinum.
• Infant Care
  Keeping your baby safe, every day The arrival of a new baby is always an exciting time. But more often than not, your child isn’t the only new addition to the home — parents have to deal with the introduction
• Infant Formula
  Young children, especially infants, are vulnerable to foodborne illness. Breastfeeding is recommended as breast milk is the best source of nutrients for your baby and can help boost the baby's immune system.
• Infant Nutrition
  As a parent, you want to make sure your baby gets the nutrition he or she needs to grow up strong and healthy. Today, most women are breastfeeding their babies.
• Injury Prevention
  Stop injuries before they happen Every day, two Canadian children die from unintentional injuries and another 80 require hospitalization. These are staggering statistics as many could have been avoided had better preventative steps been taken...

L

• Lead & Cadmium in Children’s Jewellery
  A soft, inexpensive metal, lead is often used in making costume jewellery. Wearing jewellery containing lead does not cause harm -- but sucking, chewing on or swallowing it...
• Lead-based Paint
  Lead-based paint is especially harmful to children because they are growing and absorb lead easily; even small amounts of lead dust are dangerous.
• Lifejackets and Personal Flotation Devices
  Every adult and child aboard a boat should wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) at all times...

M

• Magnets
  Small size, serious risk Many children’s toys contain magnets, and often those magnets are quite small. If they come loose, or if there is a small toy with a magnet inside, the magnet or toy can be dangerous if swallowed,
• Making a Plan
  Every household in Canada should have an emergency plan. By knowing what to do, you can help make a real emergency situation much less stressful for you and your family.
• Making a Kit
  An emergency kit contains basic supplies that your family can survive on during an emergency -- even in cases where the power is out for an extended period of time or you have no access to running water or other necessities.
• Medication and Illness
  t's inevitable - at some point, every child gets sick. But as a parent, you can help decrease the chances by following simple, everyday health and safety procedures
• Medication and Kids
  Doctors and pharmacists are specially trained to answer inquiries about using and storing medication, so never hesitate to ask them questions.
• Medication and Kids Under Six
  Avoiding cough and cold medications In 2009, Health Canada had manufacturers re-label over-the-counter cold and cough medications containing certain active ingredients to indicate they are not to be used in children under age six. Although these cough and cold medications
• Medication Side Effects
  Prescribed medications, as with any other health product, can have a variety of known side effects.
• Microwave Oven Food Safety Tips
  Microwave ovens are a quick and convenient way to thaw, cook and reheat food. But what are their health effects?

N

• Nutrition & Healthy Eating
  ating the right amount and type of food is important for all of us. Children aged two years and older can get the nutrients and calories they need to grow and develop by following Canada’s Food Guide.

O

• Outdoor Torches
  Decorative, refillable outdoor torches are great to sit by on a warm summer night, but can pose flammability and toxicity hazards to you and your children
• Overboard Recovery Techniques
  Know and practice the following emergency procedures with your family to lessen panic in an emergency. If someone falls overboard, sound the alarm immediately and then...

P

• Packing Children’s Lunch
  Make it safe When you’re packing lunches for your school-aged children, make sure you’re being allergy aware. And if your kids pack their own lunches, help them be allergy aware, too...
• Parent's role
  Bullying is a power struggle that is difficult to resolve without the help of an adult. In most cases, it requires only a few minutes of intervention to stop, especially if adults act immediately and in a consistent manner...
• Pleasure Craft Competency Program
  In most of Canada, you must have a proof of competency to operate a pleasure craft fitted with any type of motor...
• Poison Prevention
  Make sure children understand household chemical hazard symbols so they don’t harm themselves or others.
• Preparing an Emergency Food Kit
  Safe food handling is always important, and especially so in emergency situations. By taking steps before, during and after an emergency, you can help protect your family from foodborne illnesses.
• Preparing for Dealing with Extreme Weather
  Canada is a vast country with diverse weather conditions and geology -- some of which can create severe natural hazards. Understanding the hazards native to your region is important...
• Produce Safety
  Fresh produce is an essential part of a healthy diet — an important source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre. Just make sure you’re being careful in how you handle and prepare fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Physical Activity
  Physical activity helps children maintain a healthy body weight and lessen the likelihood of tobacco, alcohol and drug use.

R

• Rail Safety
  Keep safety on the rails — by keeping kids off them It’s important for children to understand that trains and train tracks are not playgrounds. Oncoming trains cannot stop quickly, and walking or playing on train tracks is dangerous and...
• Railway Safety Tips for Commuters
  When you’re riding a train with children, stand well back from the safety lines along the platform edge until it is safe to board.
• Railway Safety Tips for Cyclists
  Be sure children know how to cycle safely near or crossing railways...
• Railway Signs, Devices and Warnings
  Keep children safe by making sure they stay off train tracks, and by crossing tracks only at designated pedestrian or railway crossings when it’s safe to do so.
• Recreational Water Activities
  Tubing, water skiing and wakeboarding are all fun ways to spend a hot and sunny afternoon. Follow our basic tips to ensure these summer days stay safe...
• Road Safety
  Parents can spend a lot of time driving with their kids — to and from appointments and activities, out running errands or travelling to visit family and friends.
• Role of Government and Industry in Food Safety
  The Government of Canada is committed to food safety. Health Canada sets the regulations and standards for the safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada...

S

• Safety Around the House
  Sadly, injuries are the main cause of death for young children. What’s dangerous depends on a child’s age and abilities. Know your child and look at your home from his or her point of view to identify hazards.
• Second-Hand Car Seats
  If you are considering buying a second-hand car seat for your child, there are a few safety precautions you should take first...
• Small parts in Toys
  Small objects present choking, ingestion and inhalation hazards to young children. Any toy likely to be used by a child under three years old should be large...
• Sodium
  Sodium is a nutrient found naturally in salt. In fact, 40% of salt is sodium The body needs sodium to regulate fluids and blood pressure and keep muscles and nerves healthy. However, eating too much can cause high blood pressure, stroke, heart and kidney disease...
• Soft Vinyl Toys
  In December 2010, the Government of Canada restricted the use of six chemicals (phthalates) in the soft vinyl of children's toys and child care articles such as bath toys, baby bibs and teethers.
• Sports
  What can you do to make sure children are safe at play? You can’t prevent every bruise and scrape, especially in sports, but you can help ensure injuries happen less often and that they are less serious.
• Sports Gear Safety Tips
  When your children are out playing — whether in a team sport like hockey or for unstructured fun like tobogganing — keep them safe by taking the right precautions.
• Strollers and Carriages
  Strollers and carriages can be a huge part of your daily life when your children are young. These products are regulated in Canada for safety...
• Swimming and Water Safety
  Where there’s water, there’s risk You might be surprised to learn that the second leading cause of death in children aged one to four is drowning. Here are some tips on how to help keep your kids safe when playing...

T

• Tips for Parents (Immunization)
  Immunization has saved the lives of more babies and children than any other medical intervention in the last 50 years. It is the safest and easiest way to protect your child from a wide range of preventable diseases.
• Toy Safety
  To make playtime as safe as possible, choose toys that are right for your child’s age -- and follow all warnings, safety messages and assembly instructions.
• Toy Safety During the Holidays
  Never leave a burning candle unattended. Always keep candles out of the reach of children and away from anything that can catch fire.
• Trans Fat
  Trans fats raise blood levels of LDL-cholesterol (a factor in heart disease) while lowering blood levels of HDL-cholesterol, which protects against heart disease.

U

• Unpasteurized Juice and Cider
  While most producers pasteurize their juice and cider to kill harmful bacteria, unpasteurized options can be found at some farmers’ markets, local orchards, cider mills, roadside stands and juice bars...
• Using Second-Hand Toys
  Use caution when shopping for children at garage sales or second-hand value shops. All too often products sold at garage sales do not meet current safety requirements. Don’t buy visibly damaged products, and remember...

W

• Water Temperature and Burns/Scalds
  It only takes seconds to burn Children’s skin is sensitive and burns easily. To avoid burns: Put anti-scald devices on your faucets. Reset your hot water heater to 49º C (120º F)...
• Water Toys
  While enjoying the water this summer, remember: Inflatable self-propelled water toys are not designed or intended for use in open water. They should be used in pools under adult supervision.
• When to Replace a Child’s Car Seat
  When your child outgrows or becomes too heavy for his or her current car seat, replace the seat. Check the manufacturer’s specifications.

Y

• Your Baby’s First Immunization
  Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used in the manufacturing of multi-dose vaccines. It helps prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi and stabilizes vaccines so they remain effective over time...