New Education Program about Hazard Symbols
Young children are curious by nature. They can get into a lot of things they aren’t supposed to… including dangerous products such as household chemicals.
It is estimated that half of all trips to the hospital by children under five are due to unintentional poisoning and other injuries from household chemical products. In the last 20 years the number of unintentional poisonings has declined. However Consumer Product Safety of Health Canada continues to develop and support initiatives to further reduce and prevent injuries.
In 2001, Health Canada brought into force revised regulations for household chemical products. Products are now assessed according to the hazard they may pose. Depending on the hazard classification, the product may require mandatory safety labelling. Some products may also require child resistant packaging.
To help keep young children out of harm’s way, Health Canada has developed Stay Safe. This interactive program teaches young children to recognize and stay away from dangerous household chemical products.
Designed for educators, parents and child care providers, the first part of the Stay Safe program offers ready-to-use activities which help the children learn the meaning of the four hazard symbols: corrosive, flammable, explosive and poison.
The second part of the program is in CD format. It is designed for use by educators with activities for children from kindergarten to grade four. The activities for each grade level build on lessons from the previous years. By grade four, peer teaching is promoted by activities that the older children can do with the younger children.
The Stay Safe program is the first of its kind developed in Canada with Canadian content. For more information, contact Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Information and Education Unit by e-mail or by calling 613-952-1014. This program is also available on-line.
Health Canada
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