Parks are opening up and kids are ready to get out in the sun and play. Time spent at the park allows children to socialize, get some exercise, and explore and engage with age-appropriate challenges in a supervised environment. Even with an adult supervising the fun, accidents can still happen– bruises, falls, scraped knees and elbows, and other risks and injuries are all possible on the playground. According to the Canadian Public Health Association “An analysis of playground falls between 1994 and 2003 estimated that each year 2,500 children below 14 years of age were hospitalized for serious injuries. Of this total, 81% had suffered a fracture while 14% were admitted for a head injury…”. Teaching kids about the importance of playing safe and the rules of the park is critical in avoiding injuries and maintaining fun. Here are some things you can do to ensure your child remains safe.

Enjoying the carefree energy your child has is important to healthy growth and development, but it can be dampened by an injury that could have been avoided. As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for remaining aware of potential risks such as unsafe climbing or running, arguments on the playground, and any dangers in the environment. If you or your child has experienced an injury obtained at a park or playground you may be eligible for compensation. Contact the professionals at Dye & Russell for your free claim assessment today.

Even if you try to keep your eyes on your kids as much as possible, an accident can happen before you have time to react. Preparing before enjoying the many fun activities, like the slide and swings, take a look at the playground park area for any potential risks. The play equipment and play spaces must meet CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standards for safety. Shock-absorbing materials such as woodchips, synthetic shredded rubber or sand should be used for a safer and softer area to play in. All equipment should also be free of breakage or sharp and dangerous areas.

Glass, nails, bolts, or bottles are all things that can be left behind by careless people and have the potential to injure your child. Take a thorough look around before playing in the sand or grass in the park and playground area.

If you believe there are safety issues with a playground reach out to your park’s local operator. An unsafe play area can be avoided with proper maintenance– if you or your child has been injured due to negligence, contacting a personal injury lawyer like the ones at Dye & Russell is the right step on the road to recovery.

One of the most important things in keeping any kids safe at the park is to teach them about how to play and communicate safely. Go over the rules of the playground and ensure your child understands the risks that come with playing on any park structures. Make sure they stay or play in age-appropriate areas that are meant for them specifically.

Looking after your child’s safety while they run around and enjoy the excitement of park activities is a hard job, and sometimes an injury can happen. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident at a park or playground, contact the professionals at Dye & Russell today for your FREE Claim Assessment and more helpful resources. Reach us toll-free at 1-877-883-6171 or visit us online to speak with a live agent. Your road to recovery is important to us.

Working from home has become and continues to be how many people are working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of those are lucky enough to have a proper work from home set up and dedicated office space, but a majority are setting up workstations wherever they fit. Whether it’s the dining room table, a coffee table or your lap, people across the province are having to adjust their home lives to accommodate work arrangements.

While working from home does have its benefits, an improper work set up can take a toll on your body. To help combat the aches and pains which can lead to chronic pain and other associated injuries, being familiar with the ergonomic principles may help reduce the impact of work-related injuries.

If you don’t want to visit the doctor for eventual musculoskeletal disorders, implement the following workstation set up guidelines outlined by Ergo Consulting.

Establish an appropriate work location

Having a dedicated workspace is important. If you’re new to working from home, there are a few things to consider when choosing your work spot. Try finding a spot where the table is between 27-29” high. Tables higher than this run you the risk of neck and shoulder pain or discomfort. Having a space with minimal distractions is also important. If you’re looking after young children while attempting to work at home, consider creating a daily routine for them. During the times you need to be the most productive or have conference calls, schedule quiet time for reading or think about putting a movie or TV show on.

Get the best chair

In a perfect world, everyone would have fully adjustable office chairs. For the majority of people that don’t, choose a chair that provides back support, allows you to sit upright and supports your upper body weight on the backrest. You should be seated so your elbow height is as close to level with your work surface as possible.

Get a footrest

Sit down, look at your legs. Your thighs specifically. You should be seated so your thighs are parallel with the floor and your feet firmly planted on the ground. There is a good possibility if you’re of average height or shorter, that you’ll benefit from a footrest.

Use external hardware

According to the Office Ergonomics Application Standard for Workplace Ergonomics, laptops shouldn’t be used for prolonged computer entry. The exception being a laptop that is hooked up to a docking station or other external devices. Laptops can put additional strain on your neck because the monitor height isn’t high enough. If you must use a laptop it’s recommended that it be raised/elevated, so the screen becomes level with your eye height. This can be achieved by placing the laptop on a stack of books or by using a monitor riser. An external mouse and keyboard are also beneficial and positioned at elbow height on the same surface.

Get moving

Getting up and moving around every 30-60 minutes to stretch or walk around is good for your ergonomic health. It should be done even more frequently the less “ideal” your workstation set up is. Standing around and pacing while you’re on a conference call or creating your own stand up desk by putting your computer on a filing cabinet or counter (for short periods of time) are a couple of ways of getting up, moving around and changing your posture.

Mental Health

Anyone new to working from home can tell you it can be isolating. Especially if you’re someone who enjoys the social atmosphere that an office environment brings. Make a point of calling colleagues for larger issues rather than writing a lengthy email; video conferencing is another popular option. Most importantly, get outside. Give yourself a reason to get dressed and schedule yourself a daily walk around the neighbourhood. The fresh air will do you wonders!

For anyone working from home, make sure you are following the ergonomic principles to reduce potential injury. Neck, back and shoulder pain can start as just that but can quickly become chronic pain. Call an experienced lawyer like the ones at Dye and Russell Personal Injury Lawyers if you or someone you know is experiencing pain due to a poor workstation set up.