Category: Child Safety

Should Kids Be Driving ATV’s? Doctors Call for Ban

by John McKiggan

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are four-wheeled motorized rugged vehicles usually operated off-road. They are particularly popular in rural communities and are frequently operated by children of all ages. They are popular recreational vehicles throughout Canada. But a local physician is hoping to change that.

Hundreds of Children Injured Every Year

The Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) recently called for a ban on children driving ATVs. Dr. Natalie Yanchar, a surgeon at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, says she has seen too many broken bones and deaths from ATV accidents. A study authored by Dr. Yanchar reported that an average of 450 children under the age of 15 are hospitalized every year from injuries caused by ATV.

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Posted in: Child Injuries, Child Safety, Uncategorized

Get Your Kids Back-to-School Safely!

by John McKiggan

It’s that time again! Tomorrow is the first day of school and lots of eager (or not so eager) kids will be heading back to school.

As an injury lawyer in Nova Scotia, I have dealt with countless tragic cases where children have been injured, many of them in and around schools. Here are a few tips for parents to make sure the first day back (and every other day during the school year) is a safe one.

Whichever method your children use to get to school there are a number of safety considerations to remember.

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Posted in: Bicycle safety, Car Accidents, Child Injuries, Child Safety, Distracted Driving, EndDD.org, Kids and Cars Canada, Pedestrian accidents, Uncategorized

Blind Zone Back Over Demonstration

by John McKiggan


Most Canadians don’t realize that every single vehicle sold in Canada has a blind zone behind it. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle that blind zone is anywhere from 10 feet to up to 50 feet.

When asked, most people guess that the blind zone is 5 or 6 feet.

CBC news recently did a story on the issue and I thought I would post the video because it visually demonstrates the problem.

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Posted in: Car Accidents, Child Injuries, Child Safety, Kids and Cars Canada, Pedestrian accidents, Uncategorized

Tragic Back-Over Death Evidence of Hidden Problem: Kids and Cars Canada

by John McKiggan

Police in Toronto are investigating a heartbreaking death as a result of a back-over accident that happened on the weekend.

A father dropped off his wife and eight-year old son outside Toronto’s Ontario Science Centre. While backing-up to leave the parking lot the father struck his wife and son. Tragically, the eight-year old boy died of his injuries. Media reports indicate the child’s mother is in serious but stable condition in the hospital.

This terrible accident is evidence of a hidden problem. One that most Canadians aren’t even aware exists.

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Posted in: Child Injuries, Child Safety, Kids and Cars Canada, Uncategorized

Increased Temperatures Means Increased Dangers to Children – Kids and Cars Canada

by John McKiggan

Today is the first official day of summer, and parts of Canada are in the middle of a heat-wave. So I thought it would be appropriate to post another warning about the dangers the warm weather poses to children in cars.

Studies have shown that the temperatures inside a parked car left in direct sunlight can rise quickly to over 40 degrees Celsius (102 F) to over 70 degrees Celsius (170 F).

Heat Stroke

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Posted in: Child Safety, Kids and Cars Canada, Uncategorized

Chinese Toddler Dies and Creates Storm of Controversy

by John McKiggan

Last week staff at Guangzhou Military District Hospital announced that Wang Yue had died of the injuries she suffered when she was run down in a hit and run collision in China.

The collision, which was caught on video by a security camera, has raised a storm of controversy around the world because while she lay bleeding in the street almost 20 people walk or drive by the little girl and ignore her.

The video has raised questions about cultural differences between China and North America, legal issues about so-called Good Samaritan laws and moral questions about personal autonomy and our obligations to others.

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Posted in: Child Injuries, Child Safety, Pedestrian accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

Injuries Increase as Temperatures Rise

by John McKiggan

According to a recent report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information an average of 45 Canadians are hospitalized every day in the summer as a result of injuries from wheel and water sports.

“Summer is a great time to be active and enjoy the outdoors, but it is also a peak period for motor vehicle injuries and trauma related to wheel and water sports,” said Greg Webster, director of Primary Health Care Information at CIHI.

CIHI has been collecting data for the last 10 years. Their investigation show that cycling injuries account for half of all sport and recreation related hospital admissions.

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Posted in: Bicycle safety, Child Safety, Head Injuries, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

NFL Brain Injury Lawsuit Raises Public Awareness of Dangers of Concussion

by John McKiggan

The New York Times recently reported that 75 former professional football players from the NFL have filed a claim against the National Football League claiming the league was aware that concussions could cause long term brain injury and that the league failed to warn players and properly treat their injuries.

Recently there have been a number of stories in the media surrounding the dangers of concussion and minor traumatic brain injury. Mostly spurred by injuries to professional athletes. See for example:

Hockey Players Losing More Time Due To Concussions

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Posted in: Brain Injury, Child Safety, Head Injuries, Uncategorized

Baby Dragged By Car Highlights Dangers of Unattended Children: Kids and Cars Canada

by John McKiggan

Baby Dragged By Car

The Ottawa Citizen reported that a 6 month old boy suffered head injuries after being dragged 12 meters by the family car when it rolled backwards down their driveway after being knocked into gear by his 3 year old sister.

The infant’s 14 year old sister was helping her mom get the family ready for a trip. The baby had been buckled into a car seat and the car seat was placed on the driveway beside the family car. The family’s 3 year old daughter was playing in the front seat of the car and managed to knock the car into gear. The car started rolling backwards and dragged the infant in his car seat for almost 12 meters. Media reports list the baby as being in stable but serious condition.

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Posted in: Car Accidents, Child Injuries, Child Safety, Head Injuries, Kids and Cars Canada, Uncategorized