Municipality reminds community of snow safety importance
Jesse Bonello - Staff Writer
As snow continues to pile up around town, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout is urging the community to keep safety at the forefront of outdoor winter activities.
In a statement to the Sioux Lookout Bulletin the Municipality shared, “The Municipality of Sioux Lookout recognizes that the winters can be long in Northwestern Ontario, and to help pass the time, and to enjoy the naturally pristine environment we call home, we support healthy, active lifestyles that include outdoor activities.
“Like all activities that involve children, safety is always a primary consideration. To that end, the Municipality wants to share the following outdoor snow-safety tips:
• Sledding: Beware of traffic – do not allow children to slide in yards or on hills that are close to roads, and never let children play on snowbanks or windrows that immediately boarder the road. Snowplow operators and motorists may not be able to see the children due to reduced visibility and, even if they do see them, slippery road conditions can result in much further stopping distances, thereby making it more difficult for vehicles/equipment to stop for a child.
• Building Snow “Forts”: Children should NOT be permitted to dig forts (or tunnels) into snowbanks or windrows. Snow forts can easily collapse, and if they do while a child is inside, there is a significant risk that the child could suffocate. At least one child dies in Canada every winter from these types of tragedies. The best way to build snow forts is on solid ground, from the ground up, with no rooves or tunnels that could collapse.
• General tips: active supervision is important when young children are playing outside in the snow. School-aged children should play outside with a friend who could call for help if a situation arose. Educate your children on the dangers of the cold, and frostbite in particular: teach them the warning signs of frostbite and what to do if they start to experience the symptoms.”